ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Exports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the most recent US Farm Bill when enacted on British farming exports.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 ("the Act") represents a missed opportunity during a time of high commodity prices to reduce the levels of trade distorting domestic support given to US agriculture. The impact of domestic support payments on global agricultural markets is difficult to disaggregate at the country by country level and we have not conducted detailed analysis of the impact of changes in the Act on British farming exports. The Act makes relatively minor changes to the commodity title in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (i.e. the last US Farm Bill).

Agriculture: Young People

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided to young farmers' organisations for the provision of skills and development in each of the last three years; and what plans he has to provide such funding in the next three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA has provided £51,500 to the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs for each of the last three financial years covering the period 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07, a total of £154,500 over three years. The National Federation for Young Farmers Clubs have used this funding for a range of developmental activities for their members, aged 10 to 26 years, including skills training and competitive activities .
	Funding of £51,500 for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs has been committed for the period 2007-08. No further commitments of funding have been made at this time.

Animal Products

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animal by-product plants were approved in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows the number of animal by-product plants approved in the last two financial years:
	
		
			   Number of plants approved 
			 2006-07(1) 1,095 
			 2007-08(1) 1,084 
			 1 Financial year April to March 
		
	
	Animal Health (AH) have an approval period of two years, then plants are re-approved. As a result no figures are available for more than two years ago, as those plants will either have been re-approved or are no longer operating. The AH re-approval overwrites the original dates, making it impossible to distinguish between new and re-approved plants.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to respond to the Fourth Report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Session 2007-08, HC 130-I, on badgers and cattle TB; and what the reasons are for the time taken to respond.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 11 June 2008
	We have no date for a response to the Committee's Report at this time. There is a great deal of complex evidence to consider in relation to bovine TB and badger culling and we have been determined to get the views of all the interested parties over recent months. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained in his letter to the Chair of the EFRA Committee on 28 April, it will take time to produce a response that deals thoroughly with the Committee's recommendations. The matter is receiving our full attention.

Coastal Areas: Dogs

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether dog-owners will be consulted on coastal access provisions in the Draft Marine Bill; and whether he plans to increase access to the coast to people with dogs under the Bill.

Jonathan R Shaw: We have held discussions with the Kennel Club about the coastal access provisions in the draft Marine Bill which aim to improve public access to the English coast for walkers and for those who may be accompanied by a dog.
	We have no plans to specifically consult dog owners but anyone wishing to comment on the draft Bill may do so by writing to the Marine Bill Team, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Area 2C, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR, or e-mail:
	MarineBillConsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
	The closing date for responses is 26 June 2008.

Dogs: Electric Shock Equipment

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research evidence was reviewed by his Department on the use of electric shock training devices for dogs prior to commissioning further research.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18 Mar 2008,  Official Report, column 945W.

Dogs: Electric Shock Equipment

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make an assessment of the animal welfare consequences of the use of electric shock  (a) collars,  (b) mats and  (c) leads in training dogs.

Jonathan R Shaw: My Department is aware of a number of scientific studies on these devices, but considers that to date those studies published are not sufficiently robust. Further research into these types of collars is a priority. An Open Competition Call was published in DEFRA's annual research requirements document in August 2005 inviting bids for research on the effect of both electronic and non-electronic training aids on the welfare of dogs. A single proposal was received in response to the call but it did not satisfactorily meet the advertised requirement and it was rejected.
	In July 2006, DEFRA circulated a revised call for research in the form of a limited tender call. The call invited proposals for studies to assess the effect of specific electronic pet training aids (excluding electric fences) on the welfare of dogs. The call encouraged an epidemiological approach, based on observation of collars already in use. One proposal was received in response to the call and a study commissioned which is due to complete in 2010.
	DEFRA has also asked the Companion Animal Welfare Council, advisory body to Government on companion animal welfare matters, to undertake an independent study of available evidence on the use of these electronic training aids to help inform policy and complement the DEFRA funded study.
	The study will not cover electric mats and leads. We are not aware that these devices are used to any significant extent. If they do cause a dog to suffer unnecessarily then it would be possible to bring a prosecution under the Animal welfare act 2006.

Dogs: Electric Shock Equipment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department's research into electric shock collars will be completed; what the cost of the research is; and when he expects to decide on whether to ban electric shock collars.

Jonathan R Shaw: The study to assess the effect of electronic training aids on the welfare of dogs commenced in 2007, and it is expected to be completed in 2010 at a cost of £469,000. Details of the research project are available on the DEFRA website. We will not be making any decision on whether to ban electronic training aids until we have considered the results of the completed research project.

Institute for Animal Health: Compton

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had on the future of the Institute for Animal Health at Compton; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	 DEFRA's Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer was a member of the independent review panel, chaired by professor Sir John Beringer, to advise the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) on the future in terms of funding, governance and risk management at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH).
	Among other things, the panel recommended that the BBSRC Council should consider the future of IAH Compton in the context of work to develop a new centre at Pirbright. DEFRA is currently in discussion with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the BBSRC about the future of the Pirbright centre.

Livestock: Disease Control

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many convictions there were for non-compliance with requirements on cleansing and disinfecting livestock vehicles in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Over the last five years, the numbers of successful prosecutions resulting from non-compliance with cleansing and disinfecting requirements for all vehicles, including road, air and sea, are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of Convictions 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 4 
			 2006 4 
			 2007 2

Meat: Smuggling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to find alternative sources of funding for the provision of border controls designed to stop the importation of illegal meat following the reduction of his Department's funding.

Jonathan R Shaw: Anti-smuggling controls on all products of animal origin at the Great Britain border except at border inspection posts are operated by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and resourced directly from their budgets. The reduction in DEFRA's funding will not impact on this.
	Funding continues to be available for DEFRA to help increase public awareness of the rules and regulations that are in place to restrict personal food imports.
	The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARDNI) retains responsibility for anti-smuggling controls in Northern Ireland.
	All commercial imports of meat from outside the EU must be checked on entry to ensure that they comply with the import requirements. The costs of these checks must be recovered from the importer under EU law. If a consignment does not comply with the EU rules, it must be re-exported or destroyed and additional costs incurred during this process are also recovered from the importer.

Quarrying: Derbyshire

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations he has received about quarrying on Longstone Edge in Derbyshire; and if he will take steps to end quarrying in the area covered by the 1952 planning permission.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 June 2008
	Since the beginning of 2007 we have received over 70 representations from fellow Members of Parliament and stakeholder organisations and also over 70 representations directly from members of the public about the quarrying on Longstone Edge in Derbyshire.
	We are taking a close interest in this case and are in regular contact with the National Park Authority to try and find a long-term solution.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live animals were seized on entry to the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many of them were  (a) destroyed,  (b) repatriated,  (c) placed in the care of Government agencies and  (d) placed in the care of charities.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 10 June 2008
	There are no central records for the seizure of animals in recent years, although figures may be kept by the appropriate local authority.
	Staff from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) seize live animals only in connection with Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora. Data on animals seized under the Regulation are set out in HMRC's Annual Reports. In 2006-07 there were 39 seizures, comprising 1,229 separate animals.
	Animals are only destroyed on the basis of expert advice from qualified veterinarians, who also carry out the necessary euthanasia. Most animals that are seized will be placed into the care of zoos, registered keepers/breeders, breeding programmes, or registered societies.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons and on what basis charities taking over care of animals seized on entry to the UK are required to pay fees to take possession of the animals; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 10 June 2008
	Costs may be involved if animals require quarantine. If an owner is not available, the relevant local authority is responsible for paying for an initial two week period. However, rabies susceptible animals have to go into quarantine for a six month period, and these costs must be met or the animals will be destroyed or returned to the exporting country. If there is no owner or importer to claim responsibility for the animals, and charities wish to save the animals from being euthanized—it is the responsibility of those charities to meet the costs of the quarantine period. This is a decision made by the charities, and they would not receive compensation for this from public funds.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether charities taking over care of animals seized on entry to the UK are compensated from public funds for the cost of that care.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 10 June 2008
	 Charities are not paid compensation from public funds for care of seized animals on entry to the UK.

TRANSPORT

Airports: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many UK residents live within a 50 db Leq contour around an airport;
	(2)  how many people live within the 57dB Leq noise contour around a UK airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Secretary of State publishes annual aircraft noise contour maps and reports (which include population statistics) for the three London airports (Heathrow Gatwick and Stansted) which are designated under section 80 for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 for noise control purposes.
	These follow the standard UK practice of producing aircraft noise contours for the average summer's day (Leq 16 hour, 7.00 am to 11.00 pm) where 'summer' is the 92-day period from 16 June to 15 September.
	Aircraft noise contour reports for 2007 in respect of Heathrow Gatwick and Stansted are to be published shortly. The number of people falling within the 57dBA Leq contour is 251,900, 4,800 and 2,500 respectively.
	The Secretary of State is not responsible for the production of aircraft noise contour maps/reports at non-designated airports. The publication of such material is a matter for local decision.
	The reports and maps for Heathrow Gatwick and Stansted are available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/nec/
	Additionally, population statistics are summarised for these airports and for some of the non designated airports in table 3.10 of Transport Statistics Great Britain 2007—this table can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/energyenvironment/.
	Although 54dBA Leq aircraft noise contours are sometimes produced as a sensitivity analysis, aircraft modelling below such levels is generally considered to be unlikely to generate accurate and reliable results. However we do intend—under the auspices of the Department's Aircraft Noise Monitoring Advisory Committee—to review the issues and practical difficulties of noise monitoring at lower levels.

Aviation: Disabled

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken at EU level to phase out aircraft which do not meet disability access standards on routes operated wholly within the EU.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no plans to phase out aircraft which do not meet disability access standards.
	A new EC Regulation gives rights to disabled passengers travelling by air. The Department for Transport is currently consulting on its revised Code of Practice 'Access to air travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility' which provides guidance to the aviation industry on how to comply with its obligations under the Regulation. Although not covered by the Regulation, this guidance also includes material on accessible aircraft design.
	We aim to publish this Code when the EC Regulation comes fully into force from 26 July 2008.

Bus Services: Concessions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government is taking to encourage and enable local authorities to offer flexible alternatives to the national concessionary bus pass.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are responsible for the statutory minimum off-peak bus travel concession that all Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) are required to provide. The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 preserves the flexibility of TCAs to enhance their schemes locally at their own expense. For example, TCAs may choose to offer their residents vouchers or tokens for local use in taxis, give concessionary bus travel beyond the statutory times, or extend concessionary travel to other modes. Any decision to offer these discretionary elements is a matter for individual TCAs.

Cars: Exhaust Emissions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2008, to the hon. Member for East Yorkshire,  Official Report, column 1894W, on cars: research, how much expenditure her Department has incurred in testing vehicle emissions for the purposes of national emissions inventory modelling in the last three years; and by whom such testing has been conducted.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Expenditure by the Department on emission factor testing and analysis for the purpose of the national atmospheric emissions inventory model in the last three financial years (2005-6, 2006-7 and 2007-8) amounted to some £279,860. This work was carried out by Shell Global Solutions (UK), Tickford Powertrain Test Limited and AEA Technology PLC. Copies of the resulting reports may be found on the Department's website at
	www.dft.gov.uk/pqr/roads/roads/environment/research/cqvcf
	or by navigating from the Department's home page (www.dft.gov.uk) to DfT home > Policy, guidance and research > Roads and vehicles > Environmental issues > Research > Cleaner and Quieter Vehicles and Cleaner Fuels.
	A small amount of emissions factor testing work has also been carried out in the course of the Department's annual enforcement programme of checks on manufacturers' production.
	In addition, some £110,000 of expenditure was incurred on research into improved methodologies for emissions modelling.
	This was undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory.

Cars: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars in  (a) Southampton and  (b) Hampshire have been registered in bands F and G since (i) 1 March 2001 and (ii) 23 March 2006.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of licensed cars registered in Southampton and Hampshire at the end of 2007 with carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to the present Band F (186 to 225 g/km) and Band G (over 225 g/km) were as follows:
	
		
			   186 to  225 g/km  Over 225 g/km 
			  Southampton   
			 Registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 December 2007 6,920 2,641 
			 Registered between 23 March 2006 and 31 December 2007 1,118 365 
			
			  Hampshire   
			 Registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 December 2007 79,474 41,997 
			 Registered between 23 March 2006 and 31 December 2007 17,933 8,522 
		
	
	Cars with carbon dioxide emissions greater than 225 g/km are taxed in Band F if they were first registered between 1 March 2001 and 23 March 2006.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2008,  Official Report, column 7W, on departmental data protection, what the appropriate level of vetting is for individuals contracted by her Department to supply specialist data and IT audit resources.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All staff, consultants and contractors must complete, prior to taking up their posts, the HMG baseline standard checks to positively establish identity and obtain background information on the subject by taking up references. The checks are regarded as providing sufficient assurance as to reliability and integrity for an individual to have access to UK material marked Restricted and Confidential, and occasional access to Secret material. Satisfactory completion of the baseline standard procedures is also required before an individual is issued with a permanent pass for departmental buildings and before an individual is given access to any of the Department's IT systems.
	In addition to the baseline standard, individuals who require access to the Department's sensitive IT systems or processes, including for IT audit purposes, may in some circumstances require Security Check (SC) clearance. Any such requirements for SC clearance, for IT audit or any other purposes are determined on a case by case basis.

Departmental Internet

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pages have been deleted from her Department's website in each of the last 12 months, broken down by subject matter.

Jim Fitzpatrick: For the period 1 June 2007 to 31 May 2008, the Department removed 537 web pages from its website. Typical page removals include expiry of advertised job vacancies; replacement pages with up-to-date versions of the content; and removal of guidance and content perceived to be out-of-date.
	The following table breaks down content removed by subject matter.
	
		
			  Subject area  Number of pages deleted 
			 About DfT 72 
			 Aviation 2 
			 Consultations 10 
			 Crime and public transport 1 
			 Economics and appraisal 0 
			 Evaluation 1 
			 FOI 4 
			 Freight 48 
			 Press Office 29 
			 Railways 74 
			 Regional and local transport 9 
			 Road safety 9 
			 Roads and vehicles 112 
			 Science and research 4 
			 Shipping and ports 1 
			 Social inclusion 0 
			 Sustainable travel 17 
			 Transport and Works Act 1 
			 Transport Direct 2 
			 Transport evaluation 0 
			 Transport for you 111 
			 Transport security 17 
			 Transport statistics 13

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1393W, on transport: policy, what research documents and consultation on the effects of her Department's policies on different groups in society her Department has sponsored; which of these were conducted by  (a) her Department and  (b) external organisations; and what fees her Department paid in respect of each such project in each year since 1998.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested, which is readily available from 2007, is listed in the following table. Further information dating back to 1998 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Year  Projects  Firm  Cost  (£) 
			 2007-08 Developing guidance and advice to address the social and distributional impacts of road pricing Centre for Transport Studies, University of the West of England 25,000 
			 2007-08 Evidence base review on mobility: choices and barriers for different social groups Centre for Research in Social Policy 119,430 
			 2007-08 Understanding travel needs, behaviour and aspirations of people in later life NatCen 100,819 
			 2007-08 Understanding travel aspirations, needs and behaviour of young adults NatCen 109,831 
			 2007-08 Accessibility planning -evaluation scoping study Atkins and CRSP 88,057 
			 2007-08 Assessment of accessibility standards for disabled people in land based transport vehicles Human Engineering, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association 164,998 
			 2008-09 Travel needs behaviours and aspirations of disabled people NatCen 97,599 
			 2008-09 The role of the car Nat Cen 98,834 
			 2008-09 Assessing social and distributional impacts in transport scheme appraisal and evaluation Atkins, BMRB, Centre for Transport Studies, University of the West of England 201,333

Departmental Visits Abroad

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many journeys have been made to  (a) Paris, (b) Lille and  (c) Brussels on official business by staff in her Department in the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport (central) and five of its agencies do not record details of journeys by destination, and could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency recorded 0 journeys to Paris, two to Lille and seven to Brussels over the last three years. The vehicle Certification Agency recorded seven journeys to Paris, two to Lille, and 13 to Brussels in 2007-08, but could provide information for earlier years only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what proportion of its staff her Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The proportion of Department for Transport staff who have been provided with vocational training in the last three years is as
	follows:
	
		
			   Staff receiving training  Total staff  Proportion (percentage) 
			 2005 8861 19,286 46 
			 2006 8499 19,143 44 
			 2007 7617 18,840 40

Driving Under Influence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government have taken to reduce the levels of drink-driving.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 12 June 2008
	The Government aim to reduce drinking and driving through a combination of effective law enforcement, maintaining a tough penalties regime and continuing to invest in high-profile national publicity campaigns.
	Police enforcement has been enhanced in recent years by enabling blood specimens to be taken from unconscious, hospitalised drink-drive suspects. The police have also been given powers to carry out evidential roadside breathtesting, subject to type approval of appropriate devices.
	The Road Safety Act 2006 contains a number of other measures designed to deter drink-driving and reduce reoffending. These include enabling powers to require serious, including repeat, offenders to retake the driving test at the end of their disqualification; to improve the operation of the drink-drive rehabilitation scheme; to close loopholes in the law relating to high risk offenders; and to create a statutory alcohol ignition interlock programme.
	We have recently launched the THINK! Summer 2008 drink-drive publicity campaign, which is running in parallel with the police's enforcement campaign throughout June. This is a multi-media campaign which builds on the Moment of Doubt commercial launched last year emphasising the serious personal consequences of a drink-drive conviction. The new campaign focuses on the 11-year driving licence endorsement for most drink-drive offences.
	We remain committed to public consultation on further measures for tackling drink-driving, including ways of making police enforcement easier, and are aiming to publish a consultation document within the next few months.

Eurostar

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Eurostar tickets were paid for by her Department in each of the last three years; and what her Department's expenditure on such tickets was in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Heathrow Airport: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the division of responsibilities is between her Department and BAA on security at Heathrow Terminal 5.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is responsible for the National Aviation Security Programme which sets out mandatory measures and associated guidance for the UK aviation industry. Implementation of the relevant measures is the responsibility of airport operators and airlines. We work closely with industry to ensure that these measures are delivered, and have worked particularly intensively with BAA at Heathrow both prior to and since the opening of T5.

Railways: Standards

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance her Department issues to rail franchise holders on their duty to co-operate with other franchise holders seeking to fulfil the terms of their franchise.

Tom Harris: In principle, franchisees are solely responsible for the delivery of contracted rail services, as these do not depend on co-operation with other franchisees. However, train operators have reliability and punctuality targets in their franchise contracts and are required to work with other operators and Network Rail to drive up performance on shared routes. There are also contractual requirements to work with other operators where necessary, for instance on timetable development, in the event of disruption, or with station improvement work.

Roads: Accidents

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008 to the hon. Member for City of York,  Official Report, column 1391-2W, on roads: accidents, on how many occasions the information provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to the police and courts has subsequently been found to be incorrect.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is not possible to provide these figures as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not hold this information.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms are in place to ensure road safety is upheld when road maintenance is taking place.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 June 2008
	The Department for Transport recognises that during road maintenance and street works it is important to protect adequately both road workers and road users. To enable highway authorities, statutory utilities and contractors to maintain safety there is comprehensive, national guidance on how to design and operate temporary traffic management in Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual. This guidance is developed by the Highways Agency in association with industry and other stakeholders such as the Health and Safety Executive. Additional guidance, mainly for workers undertaking urban utilities work is also included in "Safety at Street Works and Road Works: a Code of Practice". Both documents are published on the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk.
	These documents recognise that the principle of maintaining adequate safety requires workers to be protected with cones, barriers and safety zones. However, as cones and barriers can pose a risk to road users speed limits are often imposed to reduce that risk, with enforcement measures where practicable.

Schools: Cycling

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, column 700W, on schools: cycling, which 36 local authorities have received funding from her Department under the Bikeability programme.

Rosie Winterton: 35 local authorities were offered cycle training grants in 2007-08, plus a grant to Transport for London. 34 authorities outside London took up the grant, with one later deciding they were unable to deliver the additional training. The 34 authorities outside London were:
	Bath and North East Somerset council
	Bedfordshire county council
	Birmingham city council
	Blackburn with Darwen borough council
	Buckinghamshire county council
	Coventry city council
	Cumbria county council
	Dudley Metropolitan borough council
	Durham county council
	Gateshead council
	Hertfordshire county council
	Kirklees metropolitan council
	Leicester city council
	Luton borough council
	Manchester city council
	Merseyside LTP Partnership
	North East Lincolnshire council
	Northampton county council
	Oldham metropolitan borough council
	Redcar and Cleveland borough council
	Rotherham metropolitan borough council
	Sheffield city council
	Somerset county council
	South Gloucestershire council
	Staffordshire county council
	Stockport metropolitan borough council
	Stockton on Tees borough council
	Stoke-on-Trent city council
	Surrey county council
	Tameside metropolitan borough council
	Warrington borough council
	Wigan council
	Wiltshire county council
	Wolverhampton city council
	In March this year we announced that 69 local authorities would receive cycle training grant in 2008-09. These are:
	Bath and NE Somerset council
	Barnsley metropolitan borough council
	Bedfordshire county council
	Birmingham city council
	Blackburn and Darwen council
	Blackpool borough council
	Bolton metropolitan borough council
	Bradford city council
	Brighton and Hove city council
	Buckinghamshire county council
	Bristol city council
	Bury metropolitan borough council
	Coventry city council
	Cumbria county council
	Devon county council
	Doncaster metropolitan borough council
	Dudley metropolitan borough council
	Durham city council
	Essex county council
	Gateshead metropolitan borough council
	Hampshire county council
	Hartlepool borough council
	Hertfordshire CC
	Kent county council
	Kirklees metropolitan borough council
	Lancashire county council
	Leicester city council
	Luton borough council
	Manchester city council
	Medway district council
	Merseyside LTP Partnership
	Middlesbrough borough council
	Northamptonshire county council
	North Somerset district council
	North Tyneside council
	Nottingham city council
	Nottinghamshire county council
	Northumberland county council
	Oldham metropolitan borough council
	Oxfordshire county council
	Redcar and Cleveland metropolitan borough council
	Rochdale metropolitan borough council
	Rotherham metropolitan borough council
	Rutland borough council
	Salford city council
	Sheffield city council
	Shropshire county council
	Slough borough council
	Solihull city council
	Somerset county council
	Southend borough council
	South Tyneside council
	South Gloucester council
	Staffordshire county council
	Stockport metropolitan borough council
	Stockton on Tees metropolitan borough council MBC
	Stoke city council
	Surrey county council
	Tameside metropolitan borough council
	Telford and Wrekin council
	Thurrock council borough council
	Torbay borough council
	Warrington borough council
	West Berkshire DC
	Wigan metropolitan borough council
	Warwickshire county council
	Wiltshire county council
	Worcestershire county council
	Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council

Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department plans to re-evaluate its transport appraisals using the current guide price for oil of $120 per barrel.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not plan to re-evaluate appraisals on the basis of the current guide price for oil. Transport improvements have long-term impacts many years into the future and current oil prices will necessarily only provide some of the evidence. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) analyses both current oil prices and factors determining long-term trends in the price of oil. The Department for Transport provides promoters with fuel price forecasts based on BERR forecasts.

Transport: Disabled

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the baseline number of  (a) trains and  (b) buses accessible to people with disabilities is against which the 2008 to 2011 public service agreement 15 will be monitored; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 4 June 2008
	At 1 January 2008, the number of rail vehicles compliant with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations was 4,700 (which is 31 per cent. of all rail vehicles) including approx 4,600 heavy rail trains (42 per cent. of that group). The Department for Transport records the number of accessible rail vehicles as they enter service.
	Data on the number of accessible buses are collected for the annual Public Transport Statistics Bulletin for Great Britain. There was an increase in the percentage of low floor buses up from 50 per cent. in 2005-06 to 58 per cent. in 2006-07. We have met the voluntary target agreed with the bus industry which is that 50 per cent. of buses should be low floor by 2010. All full size buses must comply with the Public Vehicle Accessibility Regulations, which include a requirement for low floor, wheelchair accessible buses, by 2017.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Bankruptcy: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people were declared bankrupt in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: The following table shows the number of bankruptcies in each London borough between 2000 and 2007 derived from postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals; figures for earlier years are not available on this basis.
	
		
			  Bankruptcy orders 
			  London borough  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Barking and Dagenham 49 45 40 82 86 132 224 228 
			 Barnet 66 86 85 94 135 215 250 270 
			 Bexley 62 69 66 89 119 178 182 168 
			 Brent, 55 58 47 68 91 112 197 186 
			 Bromley 60 77 64 80 123 219 312 272 
			 Camden 42 66 50 105 143 202 264 227 
			 City and County of the City of London 7 1 2 5 6 7 10 14 
			 City of Westminster 58 63 82 99 123 169 190 193 
			 Croydon 72 76 85 96 139 207 282 266 
			 Ealing 58 43 55 74 108 154 194 201 
			 Enfield 53 71 66 76 119 120 187 231 
			 Greenwich 58 48 77 90 121 190 250 283 
			 Hackney 29 45 58 76 129 195 265 224 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 30 36 52 45 98 134 147 155 
			 Haringey 52 39 54 62 113 135 217 232 
			 Harrow 50 56 50 55 64 98 153 150 
			 Havering 62 56 49 89 94 169 181 230 
			 Hillingdon 69 49 47 74 83 163 202 195 
			 Hounslow 41 61 44 62 120 153 202 186 
			 Islington 46 45 67 76 142 199 243 239 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 53 58 60 83 125 149 181 141 
			 Kingston upon Thames 42 23 55 46 79 89 130 109 
			 Lambeth 56 73 95 154 372 403 319 261 
			 Lewisham 59 60 52 70 109 180 238 273 
			 Merton 41 36 43 64 91 107 105 109 
			 Newham 53 38 61 98 112 150 243 230 
			 Redbridge 42 62 51 73 95 143 195 208 
			 Richmond upon Thames 33 45 65 64 81 103 136 150 
			 Southwark 35 54 69 107 182 246 274 241 
			 Sutton 31 41 59 59 98 125 183 138 
			 Tower Hamlets 88 76 102 131 169 214 249 237 
			 Waltham Forest 45 48 31 55 96 134 216 210 
			 Wandsworth 50 57 48 87 93 140 164 175 
			  Notes: 1. Classifying bankrupts into administrative geographies is done using the postcode that the bankrupt individual provides. The use of this in assigning an individual to a borough is thus only as reliable as the postcode information provided. 2. In particular, inaccurate or missing postcodes mean that the numbers in the table will be subject to an element of missing data. Nationally, this proportion has been decreasing from about 12 per cent. in 2000 to less than 4 per cent. in 2007.

Employment: East of England

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to increase the number and improve the retention of jobs in the East of England; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: As part of the Government's wider strategy on job creation and retention in the East of England, the Regional Development Agency, EEDA is charged with developing a strategic vision for the region. EEDA is currently completing a review of the region's economic strategy (RES) and this will provide the basis for co-ordinated action to bring about sustainable improvements in the region's economic performance and meet its aspirations to increase the overall employment rate to 80 per cent. by 2031.
	To support the delivery of this ambition, EEDA has developed a number of programmes which contribute to the achievement of higher employment levels by:
	Encouraging new business growth and improving the survivability of small and medium sized businesses by providing business support services through Business Link and the Manufacturing Advisory Service. EEDA is planning to boost the level of specialist business support services available in the coming year with the introduction of new services delivering specialist ICT, design and innovation advice.
	Providing a range of specialist support activities to attract mobile foreign direct investment to the region through EEDA's sister organisation, East of England International and to provide export advice to companies looking to compete in overseas markets.
	Providing financial help in the form of grants and loans to support SME growth throughout the East of England.
	Improving the employability of individuals unable to participate in the region's economy and increasing the number of employment opportunities available through EEDA's Economic Participation programme.
	Supporting the development of the region's science base by investing in the development of high quality science parks and enterprise hubs.
	The Chancellor's pre Budget report in 2007 also enabled RDAs to take lead responsibility for co-ordinating and managing the response to industrial crises or natural disasters which have the potential to create substantial economic shocks and impact severely on business.
	EEDA's work will ensure the continued and improved prosperity of the East of England including increasing the number of jobs, managing the changing structure of jobs (a greater proportion of jobs requiring more skilled labour), and retaining the number of jobs.

Post Offices: Devon

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which post office branches in east Devon made a loss in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: National Lottery

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on locating lottery ticket machines in post offices.

Patrick McFadden: The provision of lottery terminals in post offices is a commercial matter for Post Office Ltd and Camelot.
	Lottery terminals are the property of Camelot, and as part of its licence it is bound to review all potential sites and to operate a fair policy on the roll-out and allocation of terminals, ensuring that a strict selection criteria is adhered to, and that one retailer is not unduly favoured over another.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children: Day Care

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many mothers receive childcare allowances in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (b) Leeds West constituency.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	The most recent estimates of the average number of families benefiting from the child care element of working tax credit, by local authority and constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are published in the HMRC publication "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Finalised Awards 2006-07. Geographical analyses". This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost of training the children's workforce in line with the recommendations set out in the Sector Skills agreement issued by the Children's Workforce Development Council in December 2007.

Beverley Hughes: No estimate has yet been made of the training costs arising from the recommendations in CWDC's Sector Skills Agreement Gap Analysis Report.

Departmental Standards

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the reasons were for his Department's performance against each public service agreement target set in 2004 which it did not meet, as referred to in the Departmental Annual Report 2008.

Kevin Brennan: The Department published its Departmental Report on 19 May 2008 which included latest assessments against Spending Review 2004 PSA targets. Two target elements were reported as not met:
	PSA target 6 (element 1)—By 2006 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieve level 4 or above, with this level of performance sustained until 2008.
	PSA target 7 (element 1)—By 2007 85 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve level 5 or above in English, mathematics and ICT (80 per cent. in science) nationally, with this level of performance sustained to 2008.
	PSA target 6 (element 1) was first reported as not met in the Autumn Performance Report 2006 (CM 6992) which also included the following information on performance:
	Provisional 2005/06 results of Key Stage 2 tests show that 79 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieved level 4 or above in English (no change over 2004/05) and 76 per cent. achieved level 4 or above in mathematics (an increase of one percentage point over 2004/05).
	Although primary standards are now at their highest ever level, the headline Key Stage 2 targets have not been met.
	Compared to 1996/97, about 95,000 more 11-year-olds are now achieving the target level for their age in English and 83,000 more are doing so in mathematics. The 2005/06 results showed the largest increase in children achieving above the target level 4 in English since 2000.
	Since 1996/97, the increase in standards and in the quality of teaching and learning in schools has been dramatic and sustained. Ofsted have stated that teaching in primary schools has never been better and describes the current generation of newly-qualified teachers as the best trained ever.
	PSA target 7 (element 1) was first reported as not met in the Autumn Performance Report 2007 (CM 7279) which also included the following information on performance:
	The 2006/07 provisional results of the National Curriculum Key Stage 3 tests show that 74 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieved level 5 or above in English, 76 per cent. achieved level 5 or above in mathematics, and 73 per cent. achieved level 5 or above in science. This represents an increase of three percentage points from the target's 2003/04 baseline in English, three percentage points from the target's 2003/04 baseline in mathematics, and seven percentage points from the target's 2003/04 baseline in science.
	Recent slow progress has meant the 2007 target has not been met. However, there has been some progress in 2006/07 with provisional results showing improvement in attainment in English, science and IT.
	The 2006/07 results mean that 95,000 additional pupils reached the expected level in English compared to 1997, with 95,000 more reaching the expected level in mathematics and 75,000 in science.
	To build on these results, the Making Good Progress pilot which started in September 2007 will help all children to progress well at school, giving the brightest pupils an opportunity to reach their full potential, and ensuring that those at risk of falling behind are identified and supported in their learning. A new secondary curriculum will be introduced from next year, which will give teachers more flexibility and provide additional time to help children who are at risk of falling behind to master the basics, as well as offering more stretching opportunities for those who excel.
	Tools, guidance and training on Assessing Pupil Progress have now been rolled out for reading, writing and mathematics; speaking and listening and science will follow over the next year. The effective tracking of pupil progress is the most common feature of successful schools, and these materials will support schools in doing that. Through the National Strategies, targeted intervention materials for pupils who fall behind is also continuing.

Pre-school Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) private and voluntary independent and  (b) maintained day nurseries there were in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information on the ownership of child care provision. The estimated number and proportion of full day care providers by type of ownership, from 2001, is shown in the following table. Data for previous years are not available.
	
		
			  Ownership of full day care provision 
			   2001  2003  2005  2006 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Private 6,300 81 7,700 78 6,750 59 8,300 65 
			 Voluntary sector 400 5 900 9 2,300 20 3,000 24 
			 Local authority 400 6 600 6 1,000 9 700 5 
			 School/college 100 1 700 7 450 4 600 5 
			 Other 700 9 400 4 750 6 300 2 
			  Note: Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent. due to rounding.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Fire Services: Procurement

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of new appliance chassis which will be procured for use by Fire and Rescue Services in 2008-09; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Firebuy Ltd., the body responsible for establishing contracts for FRS national procurement, monitors the use of these arrangements. A framework contract for pumping appliances was let by Firebuy in April 2007. 77 orders were made from this contract in 2007-08 of which 47 are due for delivery during 2008-09. To date in 2008-09 a further 86 pumping appliances have been ordered from this contract, plus orders for 15 specialist appliances through other Firebuy framework contracts.

Fire Services: Uniforms

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of Fire and Rescue Services which have opted out of the Integrated Clothing Project element of the FireBuy scheme for 2008-09; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The contract for the Integrated Clothing Project has recently been signed between Firebuy Ltd. and Bristol Uniforms. We expect that a large number of fire and rescue authorities will use the contract when their current arrangements end. We know that some fire and rescue authorities are likely to seek agreement from CLG to go outside national arrangements for operational or other reasons. Firebuy will work with FRAs, where necessary, to assist them with the procurement process.

Home Information Packs

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to raise stakeholder and public awareness of home information packs over the next two years.

Caroline Flint: Along with the industry, we will continue to raise stakeholder and public awareness of Home Information Packs (HIPs) in the medium term, including through direct contact with key stakeholders, the HIPs website and other marketing activities.

Home Information Packs

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to evaluate the  (a) effectiveness and  (b) public understanding of the revised home information pack scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of Home Information Packs (HIPs). Along with the industry, we will continue to raise stakeholder and public awareness of HIPs in the medium term, including through direct contact with key stakeholders, the HIPs website and other marketing activities.

Home Information Packs

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to make the home condition report a mandatory component of the home information pack in the event that the industry does not secure its inclusion by voluntary means.

Caroline Flint: The home condition report remains a valuable element of the home information pack. The Government will continue to work with stakeholders to make a success of the voluntary uptake of the HCR. The mandatory option has not been ruled out should this voluntary approach not work.

Housing: Low Incomes

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average length of time to process a  (a) Home2own,  (b) Homebuy and  (c) first time buyer's initiative application was in the last 12 months.

Caroline Flint: We do not hold data centrally on the average length of time it takes to process a Home2own, HomeBuy and First-Time Buyer's Initiative application in the last 12 months. This can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	HomeBuy Agents who administer the HomeBuy scheme and the First-Time Buyer's Initiative are required to send applicants confirmation of their eligibility status within eight working days of initial receipt of a fully completed application form.

Housing: Low Incomes

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications there were to  (a) Home2own,  (b) Homebuy and  (c) the First-time Buyers initiative in each year since each was established.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 25 April 2008
	We do not hold data centrally on the number of applications that have been received by Home2own, HomeBuy and First-Time Buyer's initiative, since each scheme was established. This can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Local Government Finance: Lancashire

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what central Government grant financing to  (a) Hyndburn Borough Council and  (b) Rossendale Borough Council was in each year from 2002-03 to 2008-09.

John Healey: The central Government grant financing to Hyndburn borough council and Rossendale borough council from 2002-03 to 2008-09 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  000 
			   Hyndburn borough council  Rossendale Borough Council 
			  Outturn   
			 2002-03 8,447 5,039 
			 2003-04 9,602 5,839 
			 2004-05 10,107 8,078 
			 2005-06 10,530 6,325 
			 2006-07 11,650 7,992 
			
			  Budget   
			 2002-03 8,363 5,015 
			 2003-04 9,698 6,278 
			 2004-05 9,370 5,363 
			 2005-06 9,385 5,619 
			 2006-07 10,775 6,627 
			 2007-08 10,808 6,900 
			 2008-09 11,379 6,823 
			  Note: Budget figures can differ from outturn figures because not all grants are known with certainty at the beginning of the financial year.  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) and Revenue Account (RA) budget returns 
		
	
	Central Government grant financing is defined here as the sum of Formula grant (Revenue Support Grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and Specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF), ie revenue grants paid for a council's core services.
	Figures exclude grants outside AEF (ie where funding is not for an authority's core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authority's housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where an authority is simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities.

Regional Planning and Development

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget for the implementation of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration is.

John Healey: There is no separate budget for the implementation of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration. Full details of the Department's expenditure in 2007-08 can be found in Annex B to its 2008 Annual Report: 'Community, Opportunity, Prosperity' (Cm 3794).

Regional Planning and Development: Finance

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on implementing the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration  (a) in total and  (b) for (i) staffing costs, (ii) administrative costs, (iii) communication costs and (iv) the costs of public consultation.

John Healey: Given the wide-ranging nature of the proposals contained in the review, much of the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The consultation document 'Prosperous Places: Taking Forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration' includes an impact assessment of the potential cost of the proposed local authority economic assessment duty, and further assessments will be carried out of the impact of the legislation the Government intend to bring forward.
	The costs of public consultation incurred to date have been:
	
		
			
			 Web publication of SNR issues paper December 2007 7,000 
			 Web publication of Prosperous Places March 2008 12,000 
			 Eight regional consultation events May 2008 40,000 
			 Analysis of responses to Prosperous Places so far 39,000 
			   
			 Total 98,000 
		
	
	These costs have been shared between this Department and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on (a) written consultations,  (b) consultation roadshows and  (c) stakeholder focus groups in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The expenditure on written consultations in each of the last three years is as follows:
	 2005-06
	The 1954 Hague convention on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict and its two protocols of 1954 and 1999
	The BBC Charter Review Green PaperA strong BBC, independent of Government
	Consultation paper on a cultural test for British Films
	National lottery shares 2009 consultation
	Review of the Marine Historic Environment Working Groups
	Total cost: 38,610
	 2006-07
	Welcome Legacy: A Tourism Strategy for the 2012 Gamesa consultation
	Understanding the Future: Priorities for England's Museums
	Heritage Protection for the 21st CenturyWhite Paper
	Review of the Marine Historic Environment Working Groups
	Total cost: 54,579
	 2007-08
	All consultations web-based
	Cost:  zero spend
	 (b) No consultation roadshows have been held in the last three years.
	 (c) The spend on stakeholder focus groups in each of the last three years is as follows:
	 2005-06
	BBC Charter Review: Focus on the BBC Trust and the enforcement and collection of the licence fee
	Attitudes towards allocation of lottery funds to arts and film, heritage and sport
	Heritage Protection Review seminars
	Total cost: 94,279
	 2006-07
	Cost :  zero spend
	 2007-08
	Cost:  zero spend
	 2007-08
	Cost:  zero spend

DEFENCE

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Piranha V vehicles have been built and subjected to mine explosion tests of the type to which US candidates for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected programme have been exposed; and if he will publish the results.

Bob Ainsworth: The FRES Utility Vehicle protection requirements include those based upon latest Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and mine explosion threat assessments. The down selection of Piranha 5 as the provisionally preferred design for the FRES Utility Vehicle included an assessment of the current design and the ability to develop the design to meet the FRES protection requirements. Subject to Piranha 5 being confirmed as the preferred design, further work will be undertaken during the demonstration phase to confirm that Piranha 5 protection capabilities will meet the FRES requirement. This will include actual IED and mine explosion tests. None of the results of these assessments will be published as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces and commercial interests.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of  (a) CRVT,  (b) Saxon,  (c) Warrior and  (d) Challenger vehicles are (i) in service, (ii) fit for purpose and (iii) out of service.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   In service (total fleet)  Fit for purpose (currently available) (percentage)  Out of service (not available) (percentage) 
			 CVR(T) 1,196 58 42 
			 Saxon 147 97 3 
			 Warrior 793 74 26 
			 Challenger 345 95 5 
		
	
	'In service' has been defined as the total number in the vehicle fleet. 'Fit for purpose' has been defined as those that are available for use. This includes vehicles awaiting minor repairs and those currently in transit to operational theatres. 'Out of service' has been defined as those vehicles within the total fleet that are currently unavailable, including vehicles undergoing major repair, planned re-fit or awaiting a decision on disposal. This category includes vehicles destroyed on operations.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the interoperability of the Future Rapid Effects System and the equivalent capabilities of other European countries.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD has provisionally selected Piranha as the preferred FRES Utility Vehicle design. Our assessment is that Piranha 5 has the potential to meet the programme's interoperability requirements. This includes the requirement to be interoperable with NATO and other allies.
	In the future, selection of designs to meet the requirements of the other vehicle families will similarly take account of interoperability.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the most recent planned in-service date for the Future Rapid Effects System is.

Bob Ainsworth: In common with all defence equipment programmes, the in-service dates for the Future Rapid Effect System family of armoured vehicles will be fixed at the main investment decisions. It is our policy not to release or discuss in-service dates ahead of the main investment decision.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what discussions have taken place with General Dynamics on where the Future Rapid Effects System will be assembled;
	(2)  what requirements have been placed on General Dynamics to use the UK supply-chain of small and medium enterprises in the Future Rapid Effects System programme;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of when General Dynamics will have a demonstration vehicle ready for the Future Rapid Effects System programme;
	(4)  whether General Dynamics have specified a platform weight for the Future Rapid Effects System.

Bob Ainsworth: Where FRES vehicles will be assembled has been the subject of discussions with all the companies participating in the initial wave of competitions to select the Utility Vehicle (UV) Design, the UV Integrator and the System of Systems Integrator. The specific provision in the FRES Acquisition Strategy covering vehicle manufacture also featured in the documentation issued to the companies involved.
	There have been no further discussions with General Dynamics on where vehicles will be assembled since the announcement on 8 May 2008 that Piranha 5 had been selected as the provisionally preferred UV Design.
	No specific requirements have been placed on General Dynamics to use the UK supply-chain of small and medium enterprises in the Future Rapid Effect System programme. Promoting the use of UK-based small and medium enterprises where they add value to the programme is, however, clearly desirable.
	The assessment of when a demonstration vehicle would be available was an area of focus during the Utility Vehicle trials in 2007, as was specifying a platform weight for the Future Rapid Effect System. Our assessment is continuing and these areas will remain a focus during the forthcoming programme of risk reduction work that will address a number of commercial, programme and technical issues.
	Only when the MOD is satisfied on all the issues being addressed during the programme of risk reduction work, including when a demonstration vehicle will be available and a platform weight specified, will General Dynamics achieve preferred bidder status and these decisions will be made.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is a requirement of the Future Rapid Effects System programme that it should be able to be transported in an aircraft.

Bob Ainsworth: Yes.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Future Rapid Effects System programme.

Bob Ainsworth: Expenditure to 31 March 2008 on the Future Rapid Effect System since the launch of the assessment phase in 2004 is 130 million.

Bombs

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he received from the military on methods of disposing of cluster munitions before taking the decision to sign the Dublin Convention.

Bob Ainsworth: Ministers did not receive military advice on methods of disposing of munitions prior to the Dublin Conference.

Bombs

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of disposing of the UK's cluster munitions.

Bob Ainsworth: We are in the process of implementing the provisions of the adopted convention on the UK's cluster munitions and assessing their likely disposal costs. As soon as they become known I will inform the House.

Departmental Consultants

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's expenditure on external consultancy was in 2007-08.

Derek Twigg: The MOD's external assistance expenditure figures for 2007-08 are currently being compiled.
	It is planned that they will be placed in the Library of the House before summer recess.

Departmental Databases

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 795W, on Departmental databases, if he will list  (a) the companies and  (b) the categories of personal information involved.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence, including its agencies, has contracted the following US-based companies to provide services involving the use, storage, processing or analysis of databases of personal information held by the Government on UK citizens, in each case the type of personal information is indicated, both in general terms and by Data Protection Act category.
	
		
			  Company  Type of data  DPA category 
			 Human Resources Technologies Inc. (Virginia) Information about Royal Navy members and the wider RN community Personal data (non-sensitive) 
			
			 SuperLetter.Com Inc (Florida) Details about users (serving personnel and their family and friends) of e-bluey service Personal data (non-sensitive) 
			
			 Galileo International LLC (Colorado) Traveller details Personal data (non-sensitive) 
			
			 Carlson Wagonlit Travel (Minnesota) Traveller details Personal data (non-sensitive) 
		
	
	My answer of 1 April 2008 referred only to the first of these service providers. Since then an in-depth exercise to carry out a review of the Department's holdings of personal data has been completed and a further three service providers (SuperLetter.Com, Galileo and Carlson Wagonlit Travel) have been confirmed.
	The Department, including its agencies, has contracted with a number of UK based subsidiaries of USA registered service providers over the last five years. All those whose details are known centrally following the recent review exercise are listed as follows.
	
		
			  Company  Type of data  DPA category 
			 EDS UK Ltd. Service personnel HR and training data. Service recruit and potential recruit data. Sensitive personal data 
			
			 IBM UK Ltd. MOD civilian HR data. Sensitive personal data 
			
			 FitLinxx UK Ltd. Fitness training programmes for RAF personnel and records workout sessions. Sensitive personal data 
			
			 Rackspace Ltd. Service personnel and family/friend data. Army and RN Cadet information. Civilian recruit information. Sensitive personal data

Warships

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date Sea Dart missiles were removed from  (a) HMS Exeter and  (b) HMS Southampton.

Bob Ainsworth: HMS Exeter had her Sea Dart missiles offloaded in July 2007 and HMS Southampton's were removed January 2008.

Warships

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what operations  (a) HMS Exeter and  (b) HMS Southampton have taken part in over the last six months.

Bob Ainsworth: During the last six months HMS Exeter has been deployed on a NATO led Operation Active Endeavour in the Eastern Mediterranean. HMS Southampton has not taken part in any operations in the last six months.

Warships

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days  (a) HMS Exeter and  (b) HMS Southampton were (i) out to sea and (ii) undergoing maintenance in the last six months.

Bob Ainsworth: Between 10 December 2007 and 10 June 2008 HMS Exeter was out at sea for 53 days and undergoing maintenance for 20 days. HMS Southampton was out at sea for 34 days and undergoing maintenance for 46 days. The remainder of their time was spent alongside on port visits, leave, trials and work up periods.

Warships

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Sea Dart missiles to be returned to  (a) HMS Southampton and  (b) HMS Exeter.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. HMS Exeter and HMS Southampton continue to be armed with weapon system capabilities required to meet their tasking.

Warships: Guided Weapons

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational purposes of the Royal Navy's Sea Dart missiles are.

Bob Ainsworth: Sea Dart is a medium range air defence missile. The principal operational purpose of missile is to engage and destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles. The secondary operational purpose is toengage and destroy enemy ships.

Navy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the Royal Navy's monthly Sitrep for each month since January 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: The naval monthly sitreps (Situation Reports) are designed for internal circulation to naval requirement managers, giving a range of statistics about strengths, inflows and outflows of Naval staff by various dimensions such as specialisation and rank.
	The numbers in the reports are not fully rounded, with numbers under 10 being unrounded. Because this might allow personally identifying information to be revealed, only fully rounded versions can be placed on the Library.
	A fully rounded version of the main Sitrep for December 2007 is available in the Library of the House. I shall place a copy of the fully rounded version of the latest edition (May 2008) in the Library of the House, however, previous editions could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nimrod Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of QinetiQ's consultations on Nimrod were over the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: The cost of work relating to Nimrod aircraft carried out by QinetiQ over the last three financial years was 26.1 million.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time taken for the decommissioning of nuclear submarines is.

Bob Ainsworth: The submarine decommissioning process is defined as starting when a vessel leaves service with the Royal Navy and concludes when the disposal process is complete, including both the transfer of radioactive waste into long-term storage at a National Waste Management Facility and the disposal of the hull.
	No UK nuclear submarine has completed this process as all 14 ex-Royal Navy nuclear submarines are currently in afloat storage at either HM Naval Base Devonport or Rosyth Dockyard. It is not therefore possible to provide an average figure for the time taken for submarine decommissioning.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safety checks are in place to monitor current submarines in decommission.

Bob Ainsworth: Submarines that are being decommissioned are subject to regular safety checks as laid down in their respective safety cases; these are controlled in accordance with the safety management arrangements of the sites at which they are stored. These arrangements are approved by the relevant nuclear regulators. Checks include a weekly watertight integrity check and radiological surveys conducted at a periodicity ranging from a month to a year.
	Safety checks form part of a broader maintenance regime which includes yearly scheduled maintenance and docking every 10 to 15 years to allow a complete survey and re-preservation package to ensure further safe afloat storage until final disposal.

Wines

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated value of his Department's wine stores is.

Bob Ainsworth: It is not MOD policy to hold stores of wine. Small amounts that are purchased from public funds, as required, for specific functions as part of official entertainment are not accounted for centrally, and their total value could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	MOD's own regulations on the provision of official entertainment are contained in JSP 462 (Financial Management Policy Manual), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Committee of Departmental Green Ministers

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reasons the Committee of departmental Green Ministers no longer holds meetings.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge) on 21 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 1544-45W.

Employment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many  (a) men and  (b) women were in work in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in 2007-08;
	(2)  how many  (a) men,  (b) women and  (c) single parents were unemployed in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in 2007-08;
	(3)  how many single parents were in work in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in 2007-08.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions asking: how many  (a) men and  (b) women were in work in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in 2007-08; how many  (a) men,  (b) women and  (c) single parents were unemployed in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in 2007-08; and how many single parents were in work in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in 2007-08. (206761, 206775 and 206774).
	The Office for National Statistics compiles labour market statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. Estimates for single parents are compiled from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS) household datasets.
	Table 1, attached, shows the number of men and women aged 16 and over, resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK who were in employment in 2007. Table 2, attached, shows the number of men and women aged 16 and over, resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK who were unemployed in 2007. Estimates are obtained from the APS for the 12 month period ending in September 2007, which is the most recent period for which estimates are available. Estimates for the North East and UK have been provided from the APS for consistency with the estimates for Jarrow and South Tyneside. These will differ from figures published in the Labour Market First Release which are based on Labour Force Survey data.
	Table 3, attached, shows the number of single parents aged 16 plus, with dependent children, resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK who were in employment and unemployed in 2007. Estimates are obtained from the LFS household dataset for April-June 2007, which is the most recent period for which estimates are available.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	In order to produce estimates for small geographical areas, LFS household and APS estimates are provided based on survey microdata. The LFS household datasets are consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003, whereas APS datasets are consistent with the latest population figures, so the two are not directly comparable. LFS household datasets reweighted to the latest population estimates are currently expected to be available in summer 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number( 1)  of persons employed aged 16 plus by gender and region 
			  Thousand 
			   12 months ending September 2007 
			   Male  Female 
			 Jarrow 20 17 
			 South Tyneside 34 30 
			 North East 618 545 
			 UK 15,691 13,351 
			 (1) Weighted to 2007 population estimates.  Source: Annual Population survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number( 1)  of persons unemployed( 2)  aged 16 plus by  gender and region 
			  Thousand 
			   12 months ending September 2007 
			   Male  Female 
			 Jarrow 1 1 
			 South Tyneside 4 2 
			 North East 49 30 
			 UK 918 685 
			 (1) Weighted to 2007 population estimates.  (2) Number of unemployed people measured using the internationally agreed definition recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO)   Source:  Annual Population survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number( 1)  of employed and unemployed( 2)  lone parents aged 16 plus with dependent children( 3) 
			  Thousand 
			   April-June 2007, not seasonally adjusted 
			   Employed  Unemployed 
			 Jarrow 1 (4) 
			 South Tyneside 2 (4) 
			 North East 44 4 
			 UK 1,049 113 
			 (1) Estimates are weighted to the 2003 population estimates.  (2) Number of unemployed people measured using the internationally agreed definition recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).  (3) Dependent children are those aged under 16 and those aged 16-18 who are never-married and in full-time education.  (4) Sample size too small to provide an estimate.   Source:  LFS Household datasets.

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the  (a) employment rate and  (b) the number in employment of the working age population was for (i) the UK population of working age, (ii) foreign nationals of working age, (iii) UK nationals of working age and (iv) UK-born workers of working age in each year since 1997 according to the Office for National Statistics' reweighted statistics; what the difference in figures for each such category was as a result of the reweighting; and what the figures were in each quarter since 1 January 2005.

Tom Watson: holding answer 5 June 2008
	 The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what a) the employment rate and b) the number in employment of the working age population was for (i) the UK population of working age, (ii) foreign nationals of working age, (iii) UK nationals of working age, (iv) UK born workers of working age in each year since 1997 according to the Office for National Statistics' reweighted statistics; what the difference in figures for each such category was as a result of the reweighting; and what the figures were in each quarter since 1 January 2005.
	The National Statistics approach to presenting the number of migrant workers employed in the UK was, on 20 May 2008, brought into line with the definitions used more widely for Labour market statistics and is now based on the number of people at a given time who were born outside the UK, aged 16 or over, and in employment. However, because you have requested that the estimates are provided on the basis of working age, nationality and UK born, your question has been answered on this basis.
	Table 1 presents figures for the April to June quarters from 1997 to 2004, for the UK, Non UK and total working age population, by nationality and country of birth. These figures are provided using the population estimates published in 2003 and 2007. Table 1 also shows the same information for each quarter from January to March 2005 to January to March 2008. Table 2 shows the differences between the 2003 and 2007 weighted figures provided in Table 1.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: People in employment and employment rate of working age( 1)  by nationality and UK born( 2)  in the United Kingdomnot seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand and percentage 
			   Total population  UK nationals 
			   2003 weights( 3)  2007 weights( 3)  2003 weights( 3)  2007 weights( 3) 
			   Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate 
			 April-June 1997 25,544 73 25,631 73 24,609 73 24,686 73 
			 April-June 1998 25,752 73 25,858 73 (4) (4) 24,821 74 
			 April-June 1999 26,060 74 26,206 74 25,084 74 25,212 74 
			 April-June 2000 26,387 74 26,564 74 (4) (4) 25,456 75 
			 April-June 2001 26,607 74 26,810 74 25,452 75 25,629 75 
			 April-June 2002 26,735 74 26,967 74 25,499 75 25,701 75 
			 April-June 2003 26,935 75 27,201 75 25,614 75 25,843 75 
			 April-June 2004 27,015 74 27,354 74 25,585 75 25,883 75 
			  
			 January-March 2005 27,148 75 27,591 75 25,607 75 25,996 75 
			 April-June 2005 27,136 74 27,607 75 25,615 75 26,032 75 
			 July-September 2005 27,386 75 27,900 75 25,828 76 26,276 76 
			 October-December 2005 27,207 75 27,741 75 25,587 75 26,048 75 
			 January-March 2006 27,182 74 27,733 74 25,491 75 25,969 75 
			 April-June 2006 27,187 74 27,775 74 25,430 75 25,938 75 
			 July-September 2006 27,384 75 28,000 75 25,554 75 26,085 75 
			 October-December 2006 27,323 75 27,957 75 25,437 75 25,991 75 
			 January-March 2007 27,126 74 27,776 74 25,223 75 25,794 75 
			 April-June 2007 27,226 74 27,895 74 25,205 75 25,784 75 
			 July-September 2007 27,444 75 28,146 75 25,414 75 26,023 75 
			 October-December 2007 27,513 75 28,232 75 25,428 75 26,050 76 
			 January-March 2008 (4) (4) 28,131 75 (4) (4) 25,870 75 
		
	
	
		
			  Thousand and percentage 
			   Non UK nationals  UK born 
			   2003 weights( 3)  2007 weights( 3)  2003 weights( 3)  2007 weights( 3) 
			   Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate 
			 April-June 1997 934 60 943 60 23,638 74 23,710 74 
			 April-June 1998 (4) (4) 1,036 60 (4) (4) 23,845 74 
			 April-June 1999 976 60 993 60 24,056 75 24,173 75 
			 April-June 2000 (4) (4) 1,108 60 (4) (4) 24,438 75 
			 April-June 2001 1,153 62 1,179 62 24,431 75 24,594 75 
			 April-June 2002 1,234 62 1,264 62 24,426 75 24,611 75 
			 April-June 2003 1,321 63 1,358 63 24,473 76 24.692 76 
			 April-June 2004 1,429 65 1,469 65 24,471 76 24,762 76 
			  
			 January-March 2005 1,541 66 1,594 66 24,472 76 24,851 76 
			 April-June 2005 1,518 64 1,572 64 24,444 76 24,849 76 
			 July-September 2005 1,558 65 1,623 65 24,615 76 25,052 76 
			 October-December 2005 1,619 66 1,692 66 24,376 76 24,825 76 
			 January-March 2006 1,689 67 1,764 67 24,261 75 24,724 75 
			 April-June 2006 1,756 68 1,837 68 24,177 75 24,670 75 
			 July-September 2006 1,828 69 1,913 69 24,332 76 24,849 76 
			 October-December 2006 1,882 69 1,962 69 24,207 75 24,744 76 
			 January-March 2007 1,899 67 1,978 67 23,978 75 24,529 75 
			 April-June 2007 2,014 68 2,103 68 23,948 75 24,508 75 
			 July-September 2007 2,020 68 2,113 69 24,104 76 24,694 76 
			 October-December 2007 2,077 68 2,173 68 24,111 76 24,718 76 
			 January-March 2008 (4) (4) 2,254 69 (4) (4) 24,547 75 
			 (1) Working age is 16-59 for females and 16-64 for males. (2) The LFS may undercount the certain groups because: it excludes students in halls of residence who do not have a UK resident parent it excludes people in most types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites) it is grossed to population estimates that only include long term migrants (staying 12 months or more) (3) The 2003 population weights were used to weight LFS until 14 May 2008. The 2007 weights have been used to weight the LFS from 14 May 2008. (4) Estimates are not available for this period.  Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Differences as a result of reweighting, for people in employment and employment rate of working age( 1)  by nationality and UK born( 2 ) in the United Kingdom as a result of reweightingnot seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand and percentage 
			   Total population differences  UK nationals differences  Non UK nationals differences  UK born differences 
			   Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate  Levels  Rate 
			 April-June 1997 87 0.0 77 0.0 10 -0.1 72 0.0 
			 April-June 1998 106 0.0 (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 
			 April-June 1999 145 0.0 128 0.0 17 0.1 117 0.0 
			 April-June 2000 177 0.0 (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 
			 April-June 2001 203 0.0 177 0.0 27 0.1 163 0.0 
			 April-June 2002 232 0.0 202 0.1 30 0.1 185 0.1 
			 April-June 2003 266 0.0 229 0.0 38 0.1 219 0.0 
			 April-June 2004 338 0.0 299 0.0 40 0.0 291 0.0 
			  
			 January-March 2005 444 0.0 389 0.1 53 0.0 379 0.0 
			 April-June 2005 471 0.0 417 0.0 54 0.1 405 0.0 
			 July-September 2005 513 0.1 448 0.1 65 0.2 437 0.1 
			 October-December 2005 534 0.1 461 0.1 73 0.1 449 0.1 
			 January-March 2006 552 0.0 477 0.0 74 0.1 463 0.0 
			 April-June 2006 588 0.1 508 0.1 80 0.2 493 0.1 
			 July-September 2006 616 0.1 531 0.1 85 0.3 517 0.1 
			 October-December 2006 634 0.1 553 0.1 80 0.1 537 0.1 
			 January-March 2007 650 0.1 571 0.1 79 0.2 551 0.1 
			 April-June 2007 668 0.1. 579 0.1 89 0.2 561 0.1 
			 July-September 2007 702 0.1 609 0.1 93 0.2 590 0.1 
			 October-December 2007 719 0.1 622 0.1 96 0.2 606 0.1 
			 January-March 2008 (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 
			 (1) Working age is 16-59 for females and 16-64 for males. (2) The LFS may undercount the certain groups because: it excludes students in halls of residence who do not have a UK resident parent it excludes people in most types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites) it is grossed to population estimates that only include long term migrants (staying 12 months or more) (3) The 2003 population weights were used to weight LFS until 14 May 2008. The 2007 weights have been used to weight the LFS from 14 May 2008. (4) Estimates are not available for this period  Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Epilepsy

Paul Truswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) children and  (b) adults have died from an epilepsy-related cause in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) children and (b) adults have died from an epilepsy-related cause in each of the last 10 years. (209817)
	The most recent figures available are for deaths registered in 2006. The table below contains the number of deaths which were certified as due to epilepsy, in children aged under 16 and adults aged 16 and over, from 1997 to 2006 in England and Wales.
	
		
			  Number of deaths from epilepsy( 1)  by age, England and Wales,  1997-2006( 2) 
			   0 to  15 years( 3)  16 years and over 
			 1997 47 761 
			 1998 42 815 
			 1999 38 828 
			 2000 35 804 
			 2001 48 966 
			 2002 46 907 
			 2003 48 1,027 
			 2004 48 932 
			 2005 44 1,017 
			 2006 42 976 
			 (1) Selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 345 for years up to and including 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes G40-G41 from 2001 onwards. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (3) Excludes deaths at ages under 28 days.

Life Expectancy

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which 100 local authority wards have the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest (i) male and (ii) female life expectancy.

Tom Watson: The information falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking which 100 local authority wards have the (a) highest and (b) lowest (i) male and (ii) female life expectancy. I am replying in her absence. (210022)
	The tables attached provide the figures for period life expectancy at birth, for wards with the 100 highest and 100 lowest life expectancies for males (tables 1 and 2) and females (tables 3 and 4), in England and Wales, 1999-2003 (the only period available). Copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	These figures are experimental statisticsthat is, statistics which are in a testing or consultation phase and are not fully developedand should therefore be treated with caution. Life expectancies for wards can be based on very small numbers of deaths and small populations. They may therefore be subject to large variations even when aggregated over five years, as shown by the width of the '95 per cent. confidence interval' in the tables. The precise ranking of wards may therefore be due partly to chance, as are the extreme results of the wards with the highest female life expectancies.

Lone Parents: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his latest estimate is of the number of lone parents with children under 16 years old in  (a) Leeds metropolitan district and (b) Leeds West constituency.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the latest estimate is of the number of lone parents with children under 16 years old in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (b) Leeds West constituency. (209211)
	The number of lone parent families in the UK with children under 16 can be estimated using the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The table below shows these estimates for Leeds Metropolitan District and Leeds West constituency.
	
		
			   Number of lone parents with children under 16 (Thousand) 
			 Leeds metropolitan district 20 
			 Leeds West constituency 3 
			  Source: LFS quarterly data, April to June, not seasonally adjusted

Migration

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what international  (a) immigration,  (b) emigration and  (c) net migration was for (i) each Government Office region in England, (ii) each local authority area in England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Scotland in each five year period since 1987; and what proportion per 1,000 population these figures represent;
	(2)  what net international migration was for those living in the UK and born  (a) in the UK and  (b) elsewhere in the periods (i) 1987 to 1997 and (ii) 1997 to the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of those immigrating to the UK were employed in manual and clerical occupations prior to arrival in the UK in each year since 1997;
	(4)  what proportion of the resident population was born abroad in  (a) 1987,  (b) 1997 and  (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of future trends in the proportion of the population born abroad;
	(5)  what the net change in the number of foreign-born residents in the UK was between  (a) 1987 and 1997 and  (b) 1997 and the most recent year for which figures are available; and which 10 countries were the most frequent countries of origin of foreign-born UK residents in each such period.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls with the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your questions on international migration and foreign born residents in the UK. The following questions are all answered by this letter:
	What international (a) immigration, (b) emigration and (c) net migration was for (i) each government office region in England, (ii) each local authority area in England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Scotland in each five year period since 1987; and what proportion per 1,000 population these figures represent. (205759)
	What net international migration was for those living in the UK and born (a) in the UK and (b) elsewhere in the periods (i) 1987 to 1997 and (ii) 1997 to the most recent year for which figures are available. (205785)
	How many and what proportion of those immigrating to the UK were employed in manual and clerical occupations prior to arrival in the UK in each year since 1997. (205786)
	What proportion of the resident population was born abroad in (a) 1987, (b) 1997 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of future trends in the proportion of the population to have been born abroad. (205790)
	What the net change in the number of foreign born residents in the UK was between (a) 1987 and 1997 and (b) 1997 and the most recent year for which figures are available; and which 10 countries were the most frequent countries of origin in each such period. (205791)
	Tables Al, A2, and A3 give figures for Parliamentary Question number 205759 between mid-1986 and mid-2006, the latest year for which figures are available based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS). The international immigration and emigration data for local authorities are only available from mid-2001 onwards. The footnotes to the tables provide the basis for the figures. (205759)
	Table B gives an estimate of net international migration by country of birth (UK and elsewhere) between 1987 and 2006. Data from 1991 to 2006 are based on Total International Migration (TIM) whilst data from 1987 to 1990 are based solely on the IPS, as estimates of TIM are not available prior to 1991. TIM is the measure of long term international migration introduced from 1991 and which is based mainly on data from the IPS supplemented with other data and adjustments for people not counted by the IPS. (205785)
	The number and proportion of immigrants to the UK employed in manual and clerical occupations prior to their migration between 1997 and 2006 is shown in Table C, based on TIM. (205786)
	Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) show that 7 per cent of the UK population was born abroad in 1997, and 11 per cent of the UK population was born abroad in 2007, the latest year for which figures are available from the LFS. No comparable estimates are available for 1987 as prior to 1992 the LFS was not conducted throughout the year, and thus it is not possible to provide an average over four quarters for 1987. No projection has been made of future trends in the proportion of the population to have been born abroad. (205790)
	Between 1997 and 2007 there was an increase of 2,323,000 UK residents who were born abroad. Table D gives the ten most common countries of birth of foreign born UK residents in 1997 and 2007. No comparable estimates are available for 1987. (205791)
	Copies of the tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Migration

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, column 49W, on migration, what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of the direct and indirect contribution of net migration to population growth by  (a) 2031 and  (b) 2056; and what proportion of total population growth each figure represents.

Tom Watson: holding answer 5 June 2008
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question regarding what estimate has been made of the direct and indirect contribution of net migration to population growth by (a) 2031 and (b) 2056; and what proportion of total population growth each figure represents. (208820)
	Net migration affects population growth both through the immediate direct impact of migrants themselves and the indirect impact through future births and deaths of migrants.
	As part of the latest (2006-based) national population projections from ONS, a full analysis has been made of the impact of the assumed level of net migration on population growth in the period to 2031. This is available at
	http://www.gad.gov.uk/Demography_Data/Population/2006/methodology/mignote.asp.
	The following table summarises the results and shows corresponding figures for the period to 2056.
	
		
			  Projected population growth by component, United Kingdom, 2006-56 
			  Million 
			   Between 2006 and 2031  Between 2006 and 2056 
			 Total population increase 11 18 
			 Resulting from:   
			 Assumed net migration 5 10 
			 Natural change assuming no migration  1 
			 Additional natural change from assumed level of net migration 2 7 
		
	
	As previously advised in my replies to earlier PQs from you (207695 and 177459), the underlying assumptions for the projections are demographic trend based and should not be seen as predictions. Long-term projections should be treated with particular caution. Population projections become increasingly uncertain the further they are carried forward.

Tenants

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) men and  (b) women aged (i) 20, (ii) 22, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years old who lived with their parents in (A) 1985, (B) 1990, (C) 1995, (D) 2000, (E) 2005 and (F) 2007.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls with the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimates has been made of the proportion of (a) men and (b) women aged (i) 20, (ii) 22, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years old who lived with their parents in (A) 1985, (B) 1990, (C) 1995, (D) 2000, (E) 2005 and (F) 2007. (208791)
	Information on adults living with their parents is available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and is provided in the table below. Adults who live with their parents with a partner or child are not included as living with their parents as they form a separate family. Since data are not available for all the requested years before 2001, two alternative years are provided to present a time series.
	
		
			  Proportion of individuals who are living with their parents, by sex and selected ages, UK 
			  Sex  Age  1997  2001  2005  2007 
			 Male 20 68 68 70 65 
			  22 57 56 60 56 
			  25 36 35 34 37 
			  30 13 12 14 13 
			   
			 Female 20 49 50 50 52 
			  22 36 34 35 39 
			  25 19 18 21 21 
			  30 5 5 4 5 
			  Source: LFS quarterly data, April to June, not seasonally adjusted

Transport: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what figures the Office for National Statistics holds on the number of people in Wales who live more than two miles away from a bus route or a railway station.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding what figures the Office for National Statistics holds on the number of people in Wales who live more than two miles away from a bus route or a railway station. I am replying in her absence. (209903)
	The Office for National Statistics does not hold the requested information, but the Department for Transport are responsible for the National Travel Survey which may provide some of the requested information.

Unemployment: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of households in Suffolk had no one in full-time employment in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many and what proportion of households in Suffolk have no-one in full-time employment in each of the last 5 years. (209388)
	Estimates in the attached table are provided from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) household datasets for the April-June quarter to be consistent with those published in the Work and worklessness among households First Release, which is available on the web at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/work0807.pdf
	The households are weighted to the population estimates published by ONS in February and March 2003. They do not incorporate the more recent population estimates used in the headline LFS series.
	Estimates are based on working age households, which are households that include at least one person of working-age, that is a woman aged 16 to 59 or a man aged 16 to 64.
	The LFS is a sample survey covering over 52,000 households in the United Kingdom in each three month period. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of working-age( 1)  households in Suffolk where no-one is in full-time employment 2003-07, April to June of each year 
			   Levels (Thousand)  Percentage( 2) 
			 2003 36 21 
			 2004 34 20 
			 2005 31 17 
			 2006 44 21 
			 2007 50 24 
			 (1 )A working-age household is a household that includes at least one person of working age, that is a woman aged 16-59 or a man aged 16-64.  (2) In calculating percentages, households with unknown economic status have been excluded.   Note: 1. Estimates are weighted to the 2003 population estimates.  2. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.   Source:  LFS household datasets.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what the cost of running the provincial reconstruction team in Lashkar Gar was in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the objectives are of the provincial reconstruction team in Lashkar Gar; how many personnel the team has; and what the team's performance against its objectives has been over the last five years.

Kim Howells: holding answer 9 June 2008
	I am not able to provide figures for the cost of running the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) because we estimate that to locate, retrieve and extract such information would involve disproportionate cost. The UK employs a broad range of staff in support of the government of Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure Afghanistan. Over 100 civilian staff in Kabul and over 40 staff in Helmand are employed from across the Government, including the Stabilisation Unit, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit. Their roles include work in governance, stabilisation, reconstruction and development, security sector reform and counter narcotics.
	The PRT in Helmand is focused on developing Afghan local capacity in development, security and governance, and is helping administer over 36 million the UK plans to spend towards the province's reconstruction this financial year. Since the UK took over the PRT in May 2006 we have seen early progress on these three fronts, with PRT officials delivering valuable assistance in a challenging environment. Since May 2006, the PRT has implemented 247 quick-impact projects valued at 18 million. This has supported a number of building projects (including schools, parks and police stations), police training and women's rights projects. DFID has also committed 10 million per year over three years (2006-09) to support the government of Afghanistan's long-term development programmes in Helmand.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of his Department to release the home addresses of  (a) senior and  (b) middle-ranking officials, if requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what assessment he has made of the implications for personal security resulting from the release of such data.

Meg Munn: holding answer 22 May 2008
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not generally release the home addresses of officials for reasons of privacy and security. If asked for this information under the Freedom of Information Act, the Department would deal with requests on a case by case basis, applying appropriate exemptions if it is necessary and appropriate to do so.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what hourly rate his Department has agreed for the payment of Jonathan Sumption QC in relation to his work for the Department on the legal proceedings brought by Mr. Stuart Wheeler.

Meg Munn: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The Government always ensure that they are represented at the appropriate level and secure an hourly rate which represents value for money for the tax payer. The Government are very confident of the strength of their case and, in responding to this action, will apply to recover its costs from the applicant.

Diplomatic Service: Languages

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of heads of mission employed by his Department speak the language of the country to which they are accredited; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: 99 per cent. (101 out of 102 missions in countries where English is not widely spoken) of heads of mission employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office speak the language of the country to which they are accredited, with varying degrees of fluency.

Eastern Congo: Human Rights

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of proposals for the appointment of a UN High Level special adviser on human rights for Eastern Congo; and what reports he has received on progress towards establishment of the post.

Meg Munn: The Government are fully supportive of proposals for the appointment of a special adviser on human rights for Eastern Congo to monitor commitments made under Article 3 of the Goma Agreement. Officials are taking this forward with their international partners and with the Congolese. We believe that any such position or mechanism should be part of the Congolese Government's post-Goma machinery, the Amani programme, and are working with Congolese officials to take this forward.

Eurojust

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Members of the European Parliament on the future of Eurojust; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: I have been asked to reply.
	Home Office Ministers have regular contact with Members of the European Parliament (MEP) to discuss the full range of JHA business. In relation to the future development of Eurojust, my officials briefed UK MEPs on the Government's position on the draft Council Decision on the strengthening of Eurojust in October 2007 and May 2008. The opinion of the European Parliament on that proposal is expected during the plenary session of 16-19 June 2008. In relation to the Government's position on the future development of Eurojust, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1564W.

Kashmir: Cemeteries

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of India on the removal of bodies from mass graves in Indian-held Kashmir.

Kim Howells: We have not raised the removal of bodies from mass graves in Indian administered Kashmir with the Government of India. However, we have called for an improvement in the human rights situation on both sides of the Line of Control and remain concerned over reports of human rights violations, including continuing allegations of human rights violations by Indian security forces.

Kashmir: Human Rights

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of India on the human rights situation in Indian-held Kashmir in the last 12 months.

Kim Howells: We continue to raise our concerns over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control, including with the Government of India. Human rights issues in India, including in relation to Indian administered Kashmir, were raised at the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue in March. We have called for an end to all external support for violence in Kashmir and an improvement in the human rights situation.

Passports: Fees and Charges

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what charge is made to British nationals applying for a standard UK passport at each British consular post.

Meg Munn: The charge for a standard UK passport at each consular post overseas is currently 119.00. Fees are set in sterling and collected overseas in local currency.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation and level of stability in Sudan, with particular reference to the north of Sudan and Khartoum and Omdurman.

Meg Munn: Calm has returned to Omdurman and Khartoum after the attack by the Justice and Equality Movement on 10 May. Darfur remains unstable and we advise against all but essential travel to the region. We are telling both the Government of Sudan and the rebels that there can be no military solution to the Darfur conflict and all sides must engage constructively in the UN-African Union led mediation process which, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, the UK stands ready to support.

Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will commission research into the number of displaced Darfurians not included in the recent national census in Sudan and its effect on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Meg Munn: Enumeration for the first national census since 1993 took place between 22 April and 6 May. The UN Population Fund will assess the extent of coverage, including of Darfurians, once the census questionnaires have been returned. Full census results are not expected before November 2008.
	The UK is a member of the Monitoring and Observation Commission which played a key role in the formation of a census monitoring team. The UK also funded consultants who coordinated the training and deployment of the monitoring team.

Zimbabwe: Elections

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on the effects of the pattern of distribution of food and medicines in Zimbabwe on the forthcoming presidential elections in that country.

Meg Munn: We express our concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, including the distribution of food and medicines, to African leaders and others in the international community, at every available opportunity. The UK will continue to support the Zimbabwean people. We provided 45 million last year supporting the poorest and most vulnerable Zimbabweans, including helping to feed up to 3 million people and providing treatment for more than 30,000 HIV/AIDS patients.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many spontaneous abortions there were in each year since 1990, broken down by  (a) length of gestation of the pregnancy,  (b) age of the woman and  (c) health authority.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Dental Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) molar root treatments,  (b) crown fittings,  (c) simple denture fittings,  (d) full denture fittings,  (e) cobalt chrome denture fittings and  (f) extractions there were in each of the last five financial years.

Ann Keen: This information could be provided in the form requested only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is set out as follows.
	Information on the number of claims including a crown and an extraction, for general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) for the years ending 31 March 2005 and 31 March 2006 are given in Annex D of the 'NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England 31 March 2006' report.
	This report, published by the Information Centre for health and social care on 23 August 2006, is available in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Information on the incidence of certain treatments (including root-fillings, crowns, partial dentures, full dentures and extractions) was collected from a sample of courses of treatment (CoTs), for 2003-04 and the first four months of 2007-08. This information is shown at Table 2 of the 'Dental Treatment Band Analysis, England 2007: Preliminary results' report.
	This report, published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care on 4 October 2007, has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/dental-treatment-band-analysis-england-2007:-preliminary-results.
	The report 'Dental Treatment Band Analysis, England and Wales, 2007-08' provides equivalent information for the whole of 2007-08, and is due to be published by the Information Centre for health and social care in August 2008.
	The reports relate to treatments provided within national health service dental services and not private services.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people registered with a NHS dentist in  (a) 1997,  (b) 1999,  (c) 2002 and  (d) 2006.

Ann Keen: The number of people registered with a national health service dentist, for adults and children and in total, in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 are available in Annex A of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006. Information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT).
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report is available in the Library and also at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Under the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services (patients seen) over a 24-month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	The number of patients seen by an NHS dentist for the specified period, in England, is available in Table C1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07 report. Information is available for the 24-month periods ending 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2007. The information is provided by SHA and by PCT.
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of hospital admissions related to  (a) dentistry and  (b) dental problems in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: The number of hospital admissions where a dental consultant was responsible for the patient is set out in the following table. It is not possible categorise the data by 'dental problems' as requested.
	A person may be admitted to hospital more than once so the following data do not represent a count of patients.
	
		
			  Hospital admissions where a dental( 1)  consultant was responsible for the patientnational health service hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS , t otal admissions 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Number 
			 2006-07 238,967 
			 2005-06 234,186 
			 2004-05 211,701 
			 2003-04 210,104 
			 2002-03 209,803 
			 2001-02 203,521 
			 2000-01 205,708 
			 1999-2000 212,417 
			 1998-99 215,316 
			 1997-98 200,519 
			 (1) The main specialties used to define 'dental consultants' in the data above are oral surgery, restorative dentistry, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics and oral and maxillo facial surgery.   Notes: 1. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  2.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected in the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  3.  Data Quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts, and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  4.  Finished admission episodes (FAEs) A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  5.  Consultant main specialty This defines the specialty under which the consultant responsible is contracted. Care is needed when analysing HES data by specialty, or by groups of specialties (such as acute). Trusts have different ways of managing specialties and attributing codes so it is better to analyse by specific diagnoses, operations or other recorded information.   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Dental Services

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average distance a person has to travel to see an NHS dentist in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each constituency in Cornwall,  (c) the South West and  (d) England; and what estimate he has made of that distance in each year since 1979.

Ann Keen: The requested information is not available. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission local dental services to meet local needs. PCTs are expected to develop robust commission plans. These will include consideration of access to local dental services at the time and place that people want.

Dental Services

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were who accepted new patients in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each parliamentary constituency in Cornwall,  (c) the South West and  (d) England in each year since 1979.

Ann Keen: Information is not collected centrally on the number of dentists taking on new patients.

Dental Services

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many dentists are employed full-time by the NHS, broken down by strategic health authority;
	(2)  how many dentists are employed full-time by the NHS in  (a) Eastbourne constituency,  (b) East Sussex and (c) England;
	(3)  how many dentists were employed full-time by the NHS in each of the last 10 years;
	(4)  how many dentists are listed on the primary care NHS list for  (a) Eastbourne,  (b) East Sussex and  (c) England.

Ann Keen: The number of dentists on open national health service contracts in England as at 30 June 2006, 30 September 2006, 31 December 2006, and 31 March 2007 are available in Table E1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07 report. This information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). This information is based on the new contractual arrangements which were introduced on 1 April 2006. The information is shown by type of contract held. Dentists are employed on three types of contract: general dental services (GDS), personal dental services (PDS) and trust led dental services (TDS). Dentists can hold more than one contract and more than one type of contract at the same time. Those on TDS contracts are employed directly by the NHS.
	This Report, published by the Information Centre for health and social care, on 23 August 2007, is available in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	The number of NHS dentists, in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Annex E of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006 report. The information is provided by SHA and by PCT. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements that were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This information covered GDS and PDS dentists only.
	This Report, published by the Information Centre for health and social care, on 23 August 2006, is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	The numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	The methodology for counting and reporting the NHS dental work force is currently under review. The review, led by analysts at the Information Centre for health and social care and the Statistical Directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government, working in liaison with the Dental Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority, aims to ensure that following the first year of the new dental contractual arrangements, the figures provide an appropriate measure of the work force.
	The work force data provided in the 2006-07 report will therefore remain the latest available until this review is complete. The review is currently at consultation stage which is due to end on 11 July 2008.
	The intention is to publish work force data in the NHS Dental Statistics for England, 2007-08 report, due to be published in August 2008.
	The Information Centre is also due to publish the report Dental Working Hours 2006-07 and 2007-08 in August 2008. This Report should contain some analysis of the full-time equivalent work force and NHS commitment at SHA level.

Dental Services

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many individuals are on a waiting list for an NHS dentist in  (a) Eastbourne constituency,  (b) East Sussex and  (c) England;
	(2)  how many individuals are on a waiting list for an NHS dentist, broken down by strategic health authority.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to determine how best to manage patients seeking national health service dental services.
	However, increasing the number of patients seen within NHS dental services is now a formal priority in the Operating Framework. For The NHS in England 2008-09 and we have supported this with a very substantial 11 per cent. uplift in overall allocations to PCTs from 1 April 2008. Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

Dental Services: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The number of national health service dentists in England at 31 March, 1997 to 2006, is available in Annex E and Annex G of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006. Annex E provides information by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). Annex G provides information by constituency. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. The report, published on 23 August 2006, is available in the Library and at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	The number of dentists with open NHS contracts in England at 30 June 2006, 30 September 2006, 31 December 2006, and 31 March 2007 is available in Table El of Annex 3 of the report NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07. This information is provided by SHA and by PCT. Data are not available by constituency. This information is based on the new contractual arrangements that were introduced on 1 April 2006. This report, published on 23 August 2007, is available in the Library and at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	The numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	The workforce data provided in the 2006-07 report are the latest available. Both reports were published by the Information Centre for health and social care.

Dental Services: Hemel Hempstead

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units of dental activity were claimed by dentists in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) England in each quarter since the introduction of the new dental contract.

Ann Keen: Units of dental activity (UDAs) delivered are reported by dentists to the Dental Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority. Information on the number of UDAs delivered is available in the following reports for England, and by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). Hemel Hempstead is in West Hertfordshire PCT. This information could be provided by constituency only at disproportionate cost.
	Information for the first and second quarter of 2007-08 is available in Tables B1 and B2 of Annex 4 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3, 31 December 2007 report. This report, published on 5 June 2008, is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0708q3
	Information for the third quarter of 2007-08 is available in Table B1 of Annex 3 of the Report.
	Information for 2006-07 is available in Table B1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07 report. This shows the total number of UDAs for the year.
	This Report, published, on 23 August 2007, is available in the Library and is also available at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	Due to an improvement in the methodology used for the first time in the full year activity data in the Report, quarterly activity data for 2006-07, based on the old methodology, are not comparable.
	Activity is now measured as the number of courses of treatment (UDAs are allocated to a course of treatment) which end within any given quarter of the year. Previously, it had been measured as the number of activity report forms processed by the Dental Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority within that quarter, of which some forms may have related to courses of treatment carried out in earlier quarters.
	All the Reports have been published by the Information Centre for health and social care.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) rate and  (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility in each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Information from 1990-91 to 2006-07, the latest year that pension scheme accounts are available, is shown in the following table. Increases in contributions in 2000-01 and 2001-02 reflect the phased increase in employers contributions following the 1994 valuation of the scheme, which was published in October 1998. The figures from 2003-04 include changes in relation to the retail prices indexation for existing pensioners for which funding was devolved from HM Treasury to the Department in 2003-04, and which was fully devolved to scheme employers from 2004-05. It has been agreed as part of the review of the NHS Pension Scheme that there will be a cap on employers' contributions in relation to increases in costs relating from improvements in the value of the scheme to members of 14.2 per cent. from 2012, when the 2008 valuation is expected to be implemented, and of 14 per cent. from 2016.
	
		
			   Contribution rate (percentage)  Employer contributions (000) 
			 1990-91 4 394,055 
			 1991-92 4 458,077 
			 1992-93 4 506,644 
			 1993-94 4 488,072 
			 1994-95 4 497,957 
			 1995-96 4 525,623 
			 1996-97 4 554,201 
			 1997-98 4 605,052 
			 1998-99 4 663,982 
			 1999-2000 4 723,950 
			 2000-01 5 925,169 
			 2001-02 7 1,504,273 
			 2002-03 7 1,632,536 
			 2003-04 14 3,588,337 
			 2004-05 14 3,890,167 
			 2005-06 14 4,301,122 
			 2006-07 14 4,579,685 
			  Source: Government Actuary's Department, Appropriation accounts and NHS Pension Scheme resource accounts

Elderly: Malnutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1016W, on the elderly: malnutrition, for how long the monitoring of the Nutrition Action Plan by the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board will be ongoing;
	(2)  what the timetable for publication is of the first progress report from the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery board; how many progress reports the Board plans to produce in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Terms of Reference for the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board state that the monitoring of the Nutrition Action Plan will exist during the course of 2008 in order to oversee implementation of the document.
	The Terms of Reference for the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board state that the chair of the board will publish two reports this year. The first of these reports will be published in summer and one by December 2008. The Department will review whether to extend their existence beyond December 2008 upon consideration of their end of year report and any implications from that progress update.

Elderly: Malnutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2097-98W, on the elderly: nutrition, when he expects to publish the minutes of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board's meeting of 12 February; if he will place in the Library a copy of the agenda of the meeting of the Board of 12 February; and if he will make it his policy to place in the Library copies of the  (a) agendas and (b) minutes of all meetings held by (i) the Board and (ii) the Board's sub-groups.

Ivan Lewis: The minutes of the 12 February 2008 meeting of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board have been placed in the Library. This includes the agenda and verbal updates on progress from the board's five subgroups as noted during the course of the meeting.
	The 12 February was the first meeting of its kind. Subsequent meetings were held on 29 April and 10 June. The minutes of subsequent meetings will also be placed in the Library once they become available.

Fluoride

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to monitor the effects on health of ingestion of fluoride;
	(2)  what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the relative prevalence of thyroid disease in fluoridated areas.

Ann Keen: Under section 90A of the Water Industry Act 1991, strategic health authorities (SHAs) are required to monitor the effects of fluoridation schemes on the health of persons living in the fluoridated area and publish reports containing an analysis of the effects on health at four-yearly intervals. The West Midland Public Health Observatory is leading on the compilation of a set of standard indicators which can be used by SHAs in fulfilling this responsibility. This approach would use information on concentrations of fluoride in drinking water and intakes from dietary studies to estimate ingestion of fluoride. We understand that in compiling proposals the observatory is considering whether thyroid disease could be monitored using such routine data sources.
	A review Water fluoridation and health undertaken by the Medical Research Council of the need for research on the effects of fluoridation and published in 2002 ascribed a low priority to further research on thyroid disorders. We will consider the need for further research on thyroid disorders in the light of any recommendations which may be made by the observatory.

Fluoride

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to assess public opinion on proposals to fluoridate water in the North West of England.

Ann Keen: It is for strategic health authorities (SHAs) to decide whether to undertake consultations on proposals for new fluoridation schemes. We understand that the North West SHA has been working with the primary care trusts in the area to assess cost, benefits and technical options, but has not yet decided whether to proceed to a consultation.

Fluoride

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budgeting allocation has been made for the proposed implementation of water fluoridation in the North West; and from which budget.

Ann Keen: Funding for the investigation, public consultation, installation and operation of any fluoridation scheme would be agreed locally between the responsible strategic health authority (SHA) and participating primary care trusts, drawing upon their local national health service budgets, and the relevant water company. In addition, the Government announced in February 2008 that up to 43 million would be available from centrally managed NHS capital funds over the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to assist SHAs with the capital cost of establishing new fluoridation schemes which have been supported by local communities, or refurbishing plant to maintain existing fluoridation schemes.

Health Authorities

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are served by each strategic health authority; and what percentage of the population each figure represents.

Ben Bradshaw: The population in each strategic health authority (SHA) is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Population in each SHA 
			  SHA  Population (thousand)  Percentage of England 
			 North East 2,555.7 5.0 
			 North West 6,853.2 13.5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,142.4 10.1 
			 East Midlands 4,364.2 8.6 
			 West Midlands 5,366.7 10.6 
			 East of England 5.606.6 11.0 
			 London 7,512.4 14.8 
			 South East Coast 4,248.3 8.4 
			 South Central 3,989.5 7.9 
			 South West 5,124.1 10.1 
			 England 50,762.9 100.0 
			  Notes: 1. Provisional 2006 mid-year, resident population estimates, which are the latest available. 2. The figures for SHAs may not sum exactly to the England total due to individual rounding of each SHA figure. 3. The populations for which the SHAs are responsible may differ marginally from the figures supplied. SHAs will be responsible for patients resident in other SHAs who are registered with general practitioner practises in their own areas.  Source: Office for National Statistics website

Health Centres: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what polyclinics are planned for Milton Keynes primary care trust.

Ben Bradshaw: None. The proposal in Milton Keynes is a general practitioner-led health centre.

Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to issue the consultation on investment in access and clinical services referred to in its press release of 4 May 2008, entitled Strengthening Family Doctor Services, ref 2008/053.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	A detailed written proposal is currently being prepared to implement the Doctors' and Dentists Pay Review Body recommendations for general practitioners. The intention is that this should be with the British Medical Association's General Practices Committee as soon as possible. This will also enable changes that need to be made to the Statement of Financial Entitlements to introduce the new enhanced patient services set out in the press release of 4 May 2008.

Health Services: Religion

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on health care chaplaincy in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Since the beginning of November 2007, the Department is aware of 17 letters relating to health care chaplaincy and spiritual care. We have received representation from the representative bodies of the nine principal world faiths in relation to central funding for chaplaincy workforce development. We have also received representation from the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy on issues arising from the completion of the Caring for the Spirit programme led by NHS Yorkshire and Humber.

Hypertension: Medical Treatments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the potential use of non-drug appliances to lower blood pressure.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has made no assessment of the effectiveness of such appliances.

Infant Mortality

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many premature babies died as a result of early birth each week on average in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what steps he plans to take to reduce infant mortality among prematurely born babies.

Ann Keen: The Department does not collect information relating to the number of premature babies that die.
	The Office for National Statistics produced a report, Introducing data on gestation specific infant mortality among babies born in 2005 in England and Wales which details death rates of babies born in 2005, broken down by gestation rate.
	The recent report Perinatal Mortality 2006 - England, Wales and Northern Ireland published by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) in April 2008, found a continuing decline in the overall neonatal mortality rate and in the stillbirth, perinatal and neonatal mortality rates in multiple pregnancies.
	Tackling health inequalities in infant mortality, including among prematurely born babies, remains an important government priority as reaffirmed in the publication Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps published on 9 June.
	Copies of each of these reports have been placed in the Library.

Junior Doctors: Employment

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of junior doctors who qualified in 2007 who have not been employed by the NHS.

Ann Keen: All medical students who applied to the foundation programme in 2007 were offered a place, subject to their obtaining their medical degree that year.

Lung Diseases

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) emergency hospital admissions and  (b) inpatient bed days that could be saved by improving the rate of early diagnosis for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ann Keen: There were 179,611 hospital admissions and 917,644(1) bed days for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis in 2006-07.
	It is expected that improving the early diagnosis of COPD will reduce the number of hospital admissions and bed days. However, information is not available centrally to quantify that reduction.
	(1) Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics, ICD10 codes J40-J44 inclusive, ungrossed data

Maternity Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what neonatal units there are in each health authority area.

Ann Keen: There are 109 neonatal units in England. A detailed list has been placed in the Library.

Maternity Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children were admitted to neonatal units in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) age of the child and  (b) health authority;
	(2)  how many children admitted to neonatal units died within  (a) 24 hours,  (b) two days,  (c) three days and  (d) seven days in each of the last five years; and how many survived and were discharged.

Ann Keen: The information is not collected centrally.

NHS: Industrial Health and Safety

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what procedures are in place to reduce the number of needlestick injuries to NHS staff;
	(2)  how many injuries to NHS staff in each trust were recorded as a result of needlestick injury in each of the last five years; and what types of infection resulted from such injuries.

Ann Keen: There are a range of measures to reduce the risk of sharps injuries, including the safe handling and disposal of sharps, the provision of medical devices that incorporate sharps protection and the wearing of protective clothing.
	The Department's 'Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections', revised in January 2008, places a duty on national health service bodies to ensure that health care workers are protected from exposure to communicable infections during the course of the their work, and that all staff are suitably educated in the prevention and control of health care associated infections. Copies have been placed in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4139336.
	NHS Employers have also issued guidance on the avoidance of needlestick injuries in 'The healthy workplaces handbook', which is available by subscription.
	Information on the number and outcomes of needlestick injuries to national health service staff in each trust is not collected centrally. However, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) collects information on surveillance of significant occupational exposures to blood-borne viruses in health care workers in the United Kingdom; its latest report is available on the HPA's website at:
	http://www.camr.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1205394781623.

NHS: Public Participation

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidelines his Department provides to primary care trusts to ensure the provision of accurate information in documents they publish for public consultations;
	(2)  what steps he takes to ensure that primary care trusts make accurate figures available to members of the public when embarking on consultations for major changes in the services provided by hospitals.

Ann Keen: The Department does not provide guidance on the accuracy of information contained in public consultations undertaken by primary care trusts but expects that best endeavours are made to ensure information shared is up-to-date, accurate and validated.

Organs: Donors

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sources of data on organ donation his Department uses; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department uses a wide range of data sources for organ donation related purposes. The primary source for statistical data is NHS Blood and Transplant, which publishes Transplant Activity in the UK on an annual basis, copies of the 2006-07 Report have been placed in the Library.
	Other sources of data include the Information Centre for health and social care. The Council of Europe provides a Europe-wide overview in its annual Transplant Newsletter that includes international figures on organ donation and transplantation.

Organs: Donors

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organ donors donated organs in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital; and which organs were donated.

Ann Keen: The number of organ donors who donated organs in 2006-07 broken down by hospital and which organs were donated can be found at:
	www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/statistics/transplant_activity_report/transplant_activity_report.jsp
	Appendix la and Appendix 1b give numbers of deceased heartbeating and non-heartbeating organ donors and donated organs by donating hospitals.
	The number of organ donors who donated organs in 2001-06 broken down by hospital and which organs were donated can be found at:
	www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/statistics/transplant_activity_report/archive_activity_reports/archive_reports.jsp
	Appendix 1a and Appendix 1b give numbers of deceased heartbeating and non-heartbeating organ donors and donated organs by donating hospitals.

Paediatrics

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) training and  (b) consultancy posts were established in each of the last five years for paediatrics.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally, however the numbers of doctors in training and consultants in paediatrics for each of the last five years is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Hospital and community health services: medical and dental staff within each specified paediatric specialty: England as 30 September each year 
			Number (headcount) 
			All staff  Consultant  Associate specialist  Staff group  Registrar group 
			 1997 Total 4,636 1,321 64 283 986 
			  Paediatric cardiology 39 16   13 
			  Paediatric dentistry 65 20 2 1 18 
			  Paediatric surgery 227 74 1 2 55 
			  Paediatrics 4,305 1,211 61 280 900 
			
			 1998 Total 4,879 1,408 79 342 1,090 
			  Paediatric cardiology 55 17   21 
			  Paediatric dentistry 69 23 1 2 18 
			  Paediatric surgery 268 86 2 5 56 
			  Paediatrics 4,487 1,282 76 335 995 
			
			 1999 Total 5,063 1,474 96 372 1,180 
			  Paediatric cardiology 52 18  2 21 
			  Paediatric dentistry 74 21 1 3 22 
			  Paediatric surgery 239 98 1 5 55 
			  Paediatrics 4,698 1,337 94 362 1,082 
			
			 2000 Total 5,377 1,570 104 472 1,229 
			  Paediatric cardiology 51 23   19 
			  Paediatric dentistry 73 23 2 5 20 
			  Paediatric surgery 277 104 2 7 63 
			  Paediatrics 4,976 1,420 100 460 1,127 
			
			 2001 Total 5,476 1,643 109 507 1,194 
			  Paediatric cardiology 68 29   18 
			  Paediatric dentistry 64 22 1 3 18 
			  Paediatric surgery 285 114 1 9 69 
			  Paediatrics 5,059 1,478 107 495 1,089 
			
			 2002 Total 5,976 1,822 134 556 1,259 
			  Paediatric cardiology 115 64   31 
			  Paediatric dentistry 66 22 2 3 12 
			  Paediatric surgery 302 105 5 7 81 
			  Paediatrics 5,493 1,631 127 546 1,135 
			 2003 Total 6,291 1,937 165 579 1,308 
			  Paediatric cardiology 110 69   21 
			  Paediatric dentistry 70 30 1 1 14 
			  Paediatric surgery 261 100 3 3 68 
			  Paediatrics 5,850 1,738 161 575 1,205 
			
			 2004 Total 6,847 2,040 211 584 1,609 
			  Paediatric cardiology 108 63   23 
			  Paediatric dentistry 78 30 3 2 24 
			  Paediatric surgery 325 108 4 7 100 
			  Paediatrics 6,336 1,839 204 575 1,462 
			
			 2005 Total 7,178 2,168 258 551 1,739 
			  Paediatric cardiology 90 48 1  18 
			  Paediatric dentistry 74 29 2 3 23 
			  Paediatric surgery 334 106 4 9 99 
			  Paediatrics 6,680 1,985 251 539 1,599 
			
			 2006 Total 7,424 2, 289 291 538 1,849 
			  Paediatric cardiology 124 63   36 
			  Paediatric dentistry 81 31 3 3 18 
			  Paediatric surgery 304 104 1 5 95 
			  Paediatrics 6,915 2, 091 287 530 1,700 
			
			 2007 Total 7,384 2, 331 282 488 3,263 
			  Paediatric cardiology 93 42   46 
			  Paediatric dentistry 77 29 2 2 21 
			  Paediatric surgery 279 104 7 5 128 
			  Paediatrics 6,935 2,156 273 481 3,068 
		
	
	
		
			Senior House Officer  Foundation Year  House officer and foundation year 1  Hospital practitioner/clinical assistant  Other staff 
			 1997 Total 1,815  24 140 3 
			  Paediatric cardiology 9  1   
			  Paediatric dentistry 6  4 13 1 
			  Paediatric surgery 92  2 1  
			  Paediatrics 1,708  18 125 2 
			
			 1998 Total 1,793  33 133 1 
			  Paediatric cardiology 17 
			  Paediatric dentistry 6   18 1 
			  Paediatric surgery 109  7 3  
			  Paediatrics 1,661  26 112  
			
			 1999 Total 1,780  42 119  
			  Paediatric cardiology 10   1  
			  Paediatric dentistry 6  2 19  
			  Paediatric surgery 75  4 1  
			  Paediatrics 1,689  36 98  
			
			 2000 Total 1,847  46 109  
			  Paediatric cardiology 8   1  
			  Paediatric dentistry 3   20  
			  Paediatric surgery 97  3 1  
			  Paediatrics 1,739  43 87  
			
			 2001 Total 1,818  46 102 57 
			  Paediatric cardiology 19  2   
			  Paediatric dentistry 5  1 14  
			  Paediatric surgery 86  4 2  
			  Paediatrics 1,708  39 86 57 
			
			 2002 Total 1, ,932  61 106 106 
			  Paediatric cardiology 20 
			  Paediatric dentistry 4  3 20  
			  Paediatric surgery 96  7 1  
			  Paediatrics 1, ,812  51 85 106 
			
			 2003 Total 2, ,052  73 88 89 
			  Paediatric cardiology 20 
			  Paediatric dentistry 8   16  
			  Paediatric surgery 81  4 2  
			  Paediatrics 1,943  69 70 89 
			
			 2004 Total 2,193  80 71 59 
			  Paediatric cardiology 22 
			  Paediatric dentistry 9   10  
			  Paediatric surgery 101  4 1  
			  Paediatrics 2, ,061  76 60 59 
			
			 2005 Total 2,133 103 125 63 38 
			  Paediatric cardiology 22 1
			  Paediatric dentistry 6   10 1 
			  Paediatric surgery 99 6 10 1  
			  Paediatrics 2,006 96 115 52 37 
			
			 2006 Total 2,022 214 137 62 22 
			  Paediatric cardiology 25 
			  Paediatric dentistry 6   15 5 
			  Paediatric surgery 81 10 8   
			  Paediatrics 1,910 204 129 47 17 
			
			 2007 Total 527 269 150 54 20 
			  Paediatric cardiology 5 
			  Paediatric dentistry 9   8 6 
			  Paediatric surgery 15 14 6   
			  Paediatrics 498 255 144 46 14

Parkinson's Disease: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals in Hertfordshire provide  (a) Parkinson's disease and  (b) paediatric diabetes specialist nurses.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	The annual national heath service work force census does not separately identify the number of Parkinson's disease and paediatric diabetes specialist nurses from the rest of the nursing work force. Work force planning is a matter for local determination as local NHS organisations are best placed to assess the health care needs of their local population. The hon. Member may therefore wish to raise this matter locally.

Patients: Attendance

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital appointments were missed in each primary care trust in the last year for which information is available; what the average cost of a missed hospital appointment was in that year; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of missed hospital appointments in each primary care trust for 2007-08 is shown in the table.
	The Department has not made an estimate of the cost of such missed appointments. Through the introduction of choice and choose and book, patients can now choose the place, time and date of their hospital appointment which will help to reduce the number of missed appointments in national health service hospitals.
	
		
			  Missed hospital appointments, all specialties, by primary care trust, England, 2007-08 commissioner based 
			  PCT name  1( st)  and subsequent out-patient appointments did not attend (DNA)  In-patient failed to attend  Total missed appointments 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 45,245 1,290 46,535 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 26,524 379 26,903 
			 Barnet PCT 51,197 1,084 52,281 
			 Barnsley PCT 38,503 1,092 39,595 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 11,604 100 11,704 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 10,132 612 10,744 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 20,145 625 20,770 
			 Berkshire East PCT 63,354 368 63,722 
			 Berkshire West PCT 30,551 498 31,049 
			 Bexley Care Trust 19,463 300 19,763 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 62,783 1,302 64,085 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 17,387 370 17,757 
			 Blackpool PCT 19,896 178 20,074 
			 Bolton PCT 31,725 641 32,366 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 20,226 283 20,509 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 54,842 252 55,094 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 46,025 1,037 47,062 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 23,129 160 23,289 
			 Bristol PCT 44,238 809 45,047 
			 Bromley PCT 34,282 331 34,613 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 29,441 1,059 30,500 
			 Bury PCT 26,213 444 26,657 
			 Calderdale PCT 24,192 314 24,506 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 34,010 451 34,461 
			 Camden PCT 42,408 819 43,227 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 34,329 560 34,889 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 55,407 684 56,091 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 42,455 723 43,178 
			 Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly PCT 33,316 585 33,901 
			 County Durham PCT 46,326 1,347 47,673 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 36,506 797 37,303 
			 Croydon PCT 39,538 1,121 40,659 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT 32,339 894 33,233 
			 Darlington PCT 10,558 130 10,688 
			 Derby City PCT 25,773 848 26,621 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 52,860 1,342 54,202 
			 Devon PCT 44,451 1,265 45,716 
			 Doncaster PCT 26,137 390 26,527 
			 Dorset PCT 23,961 419 24,380 
			 Dudley PCT 39,989 599 40,588 
			 Ealing PCT 153,768 1,054 154,822 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 6,543 517 7,060 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 46,014 660 46,674 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 20,374 460 20,834 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 26,854 721 27,575 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 64,130 447 64,577 
			 Enfield PCT 38,931 467 39,398 
			 Gateshead PCT 23,612 537 24,149 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 36,714 175 36,889 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 18,327 422 18,749 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 31,778 738 32,516 
			 Halton and St. Helens PCT 38,773 1,040 39,813 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 32,235 145 32,380 
			 Hampshire PCT 119,154 1,335 120,489 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 45,630 1,172 46,802 
			 Harrow PCT 14,765 580 15,345 
			 Hartlepool PCT 9,261 272 9,533 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 15,440 385 15,825 
			 Havering PCT 28,414 317 28,731 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 53,673 801 54,474 
			 Herefordshire PCT 13,569 37 13,606 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 33,513 625 . 34,138 
			 Hillingdon PCT 23,955 811 24,766 
			 Hounslow PCT 5,741 543 6,284 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 29,124 461 29,585 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 10,624 116 10,740 
			 Islington PCT 37,095 1,407 38,502 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 25,123 202 25,325 
			 Kingston PCT 24,572 126 24,698 
			 Kirklees PCT 43,934 676 44,610 
			 Knowsley PCT 29,910 656 30,566 
			 Lambeth PCT 68,607 1,279 69,886 
			 Leeds PCT 79,718 765 80,483 
			 Leicester City PCT 38,481 321 38,802 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 46,316 994 47,310 
			 Lewisham PCT 62,856 853 63,709 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 49,211 1,066 50,277 
			 Liverpool PCT 94,498 899 95,397 
			 Luton PCT 21,838 400 22,238 
			 Manchester PCT 113,948 2,509 116,457 
			 Medway PCT 24,863 203 25,066 
			 Mid Essex PCT 31,021 233 31,254 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 14,597 326 14,923 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 16,933 151 17,084 
			 Newcastle PCT 39,868 1,316 41,184 
			 Newham PCT 41,273 602 41,875 
			 Norfolk PCT 40,029 713 40,742 
			 North East Essex PCT 19,854 236 20,090 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus 14,687 483 15,170 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 29,640 506 30,146 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 13,048 642 13,690 
			 North Somerset PCT 16,962 239 17,201 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 10,525 35 10,560 
			 North Tees Teaching PCT 15,931 554 16,485 
			 North Tyneside PCT 27,777 647 28,424 
			 North Yorkshire And York PCT 39,428 547 39,975 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 38,862 1,379 40,241 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 30,496 792 31,288 
			 Nottingham City PCT 31,749 546 32,295 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 56,929 1,150 58,079 
			 Oldham PCT 31,119 707 31,826 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 40,620 824 41,444 
			 Peterborough PCT 12,084 291 12,375 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 17,624 500 18,124 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 1.7,853 447 18,300 
			 Redbridge PCT 31,271 1,035 32,306 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 9,338 191 9,529 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 41,668 122 41,790 
			 Rotherham PCT 31,872 1,142 33,014 
			 Salford PCT 38,612 838 39,450 
			 Sandwell PCT 48,274 763 49,037 
			 Sefton PCT 39,295 1,009 40,304 
			 Sheffield PCT 72,054 1,618 73,672 
			 Shropshire County PCT 16,154 245 16,399 
			 Solihull Care Trust 22,580 225 22,805 
			 Somerset PCT 37,992 1,009 39,001 
			 South Birmingham PCT 52,449 763 53,212 
			 South East Essex PCT 35,918 786 36,704 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 16,620 374 16,994 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 49,408 1,544 50,952 
			 South Tyneside PCT 16,162 757 16,919 
			 South West Essex PCT 44,574 385 44,959 
			 Southampton City PCT 21,976 392 22,368 
			 Southwark PCT 64,616 1,014 65,630 
			 Stockport PCT 33,783 563 34,346 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 19,236 274 19,510 
			 Suffolk PCT 39,965 436 40,401 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 26,373 954 27,327 
			 Surrey PCT 64,711 747 65,458 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 35,912 444 36,356 
			 Swindon PCT 14,311 329 14,640 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 26,409 587 26,996 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 12,387 244 12,631 
			 Torbay Care Trust 8,693 111 8,804 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 46,778 496 47,274 
			 Trafford PCT 33,149 846 33,995 
			 Wakefield District PCT 41,352 683 42,035 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 29,998 377 30,375 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 26,535 250 26,785 
			 Wandsworth PCT 36,329 261 36,590 
			 Warrington PCT 17,075 645 17,720 
			 Warwickshire PCT 45,835 881 46,716 
			 West Essex PCT 26,085 149 26,234 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 9,448 989 10,437 
			 West Kent PCT 58,746 939 59,685 
			 West Sussex PCT 49,679 765 50,444 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 22,666 380 23,046 
			 Westminster PCT 29,949 377 30,326 
			 Wiltshire PCT 25,324 324 25,648 
			 Wirral PCT 32,644 844 33,488 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 35,040 443 35,483 
			 Worcestershire PCT 46,797 910 47,707 
			  Notes: 1. On 1 October 2007 North Lincolnshire PCT became North Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus. Data for North Lincolnshire PCT have been reported as North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus in the table. 2. An estimate has been used for quarter three for City and Hackney PCT for failed to attends. 3. An estimate has been used for quarter one for Westminster PCT for DNAs. 4. DNA is where a patient did not attend a 1(st) or subsequent out-patient appointment and no advance warning was given, or the patient arrived too late to be seen. 5. Failed to attend is where a patient did not attend hospital when they were due to be admitted for treatment.  Source: Department of Health forms KH067AR, quarterly activity return (OAR)

Tobacco: Licensed Premises

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government have plans to remove cigarette vending machines from licensed premises.

Dawn Primarolo: The sale of tobacco from vending machines is a topic of consideration within the Consultation on the future of tobacco control. This consultation was published on 31 May 2008; copies are available in the Library and are available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/consultations
	The consultation will close on 8 September 2008.
	The Government welcome responses from all interested stakeholders and will make decisions on further controls on tobacco vending machines in light of the responses to the consultation.

West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust : Vacancies

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS posts have been vacant for more than three months at  (a) West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust and  (b) South West Hertfordshire Acute Hospital Trust.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is available on national health service organisations' three month vacancy rates for vacancies that trusts are actively trying to fill that have lasted for three months or more. The latest available information shows the position at 31 March 2007.
	There is no South West Hertfordshire Acute Hospital Trust and so information has been provided for West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which is based in the hon. Member's constituency. The following tables show the three-month vacancy rates and vacancy numbers at 31 March 2007 for West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
	
		
			  NHS three month vacancies in West Hertfordshire PCT and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, all non-medical staff groups and medical and dental staff (excluding doctors in training and equivalents) 
			  Three month vacancy rates and numbers 
			   Medical and dental staff (excluding doctors in training) 
			   Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 0.0 0 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 4.1 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Three month vacancy rates and numbers 
			   All nursing, midwifery and health , of which:  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health  Unqualified nursing, midwifery and health 
			   Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 0.1 2 0.2 2 0.0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Three month vacancy rates and numbers 
			   All scientific and therapeutic  Qualified allied health professionals  Qualified  health  care scientists 
			   Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 2.7 14 1.3 2 5.1 8 
		
	
	
		
			  Three month vacancy rates and numbers 
			   Other qualified scientific  Unqualified scientific  Other non-medical staff 
			   Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)  Three month vacancy number 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 3.8 4 0.8 1 0.2 2 
			  Notes: 1. Vacancy data are from the Vacancies Survey 2007. 2. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2007. 3. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents). 4. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post. 5. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the September 2006 Non-Medical Workforce Census and Medical and Dental Workforce Census. 6. Vacancy numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number. 7. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 8. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Vacancies Survey March 2007

HOME DEPARTMENT

Criminal Records Bureau: Internet

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the website, www.crb.gov.uk, in each month since its inception; what the budget for the website is for 2008-09; how many staff are employed to maintain the website; and how many unique visitors there were to the website in each month since its inception.

Meg Hillier: The amount spent on the website, www.crb.gov.uk, in each year since its inception is detailed in the following table. The average monthly cost for each year is also shown. However, the exact monthly costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Monthly figuresVisitors to CRB website 
			  Period  Number of visitors 
			 7 December 2005 to 31 December 2005 28,977 
			   
			  2006  
			 January 85,952 
			 February 83,171 
			 March 93, 149 
			 April 74, 821 
			 May 84,290 
			 June 76,141 
			 July 73,880 
			 August 73, 862 
			 September 81,030 
			 October 86,218 
			 November 91,677 
			 December 64,887 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 108,167 
			 February 97,373 
			 March 107,197 
			 April 93,207 
			 May 104,881 
			 June 104,615 
			 July 106,811 
			 August 107,448 
			 September 110,372 
			 October 122,933 
			 November 121,174 
			 December 91,572 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 142,256 
			 February 128,869 
			 March 129,915 
			 April 144,092 
		
	
	The budget for the website for 2008-09 is 44,500 which includes the cost of an upgrade in the web support software and a redesign of the website.
	The CRB employs one person whose role is to maintain and update the website. However, this is only one aspect of their role and not the only task the person carries out.
	The numbers of visitors to the website in each month since December 2005 are detailed in the following table. These figures date back to the point at which the CRB acquired the package that allows them to glean such statistical data.
	The CRB cannot confirm the number of unique visitors as some individuals may have visited the website on several occasions.
	
		
			  Website expenditure 
			   
			   Annual cost  Average cost per month 
			 2002-03 12,079 1,007 
			 2003-04 34,863 2,905 
			 2004-05 18,990 1,583 
			 2005-06 122,000 10,167 
			 2006-07 47,262 3,938 
			 2007-08 36,992 3,083

Genetics: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children had their DNA recorded on police records  (a) in England and  (b) in Sussex in each of the last five years.

Meg Hillier: The following table gives numbers of subject profiles and the estimated number of individuals aged under 18, and under 16 years, sampled by police forces in England and in Sussex in each of the last five financial years. The figures show those currently under 18 or 16, not those who were that age at the time they were sampled. The fact that someone is sampled by a particular police force does not mean that the person lives in the force area. The number of profiles held on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) is not the same as the number of individuals. As it is possible for a profile to be loaded onto the NDNAD on more than one occasion, some profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. This can occur, for example, if the person provided different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because profiles are upgraded. At present, the replication rate is 13.3 per cent.
	
		
			   England  Sussex 
			   Under 18  Under 16  Under 18  Under 16 
			   Subject  p rofiles  Estimated i ndividuals  Subject p rofiles  Estimated i ndividuals  Subject p rofiles  Estimated i ndividuals  Subject  p rofiles  Estimated  i ndividuals 
			 2003-04 87,288 75,679 51,930 45,023 2,508 2,174 1,555 1,348 
			 2004-05 105,654 91,602 64,025 55,510 3,267 2,832 2,016 1,748 
			 2005-06 134,649 116,741 81,421 70,592 3,730 3,234 2,283 1,979 
			 2006-07 139,045 120,552 84,519 73,278 3,435 2,978 2,101 1,822 
			 April 2007 to February 2008 105,645 91,594 65,015 56,368 3,130 2,714 1,809 1,568

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications to use DNA samples from the national DNA database in research projects have been refused to date; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: Three applications from the Forensic Science Service made between 2002 and 2005 to use DNA samples to develop a Y-STR and surnames database were refused.

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2008, Official Report, column 2062W, on genetics: database, how many DNA samples from the national DNA database were used for the research project carried out by Cellmark Forensic Services on the further development of familial searching software; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: No DNA samples were used for the research project referred to. The term DNA sample refers to biological material taken from an individual, or a trace left at a crime scene.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for employing illegal immigrants in each year sine 1997.

Liam Byrne: Statistics showing the number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, from 1997 to 2006, in England and Wales, are shown in the following table. All defendants found guilty of this offence were given a fine; with the exception of one defendant in 2005 who was given a conditional discharge.
	Information on persons proceeded against for offences under Immigration Acts 1971 to 2004 during 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	We are committed to bringing forward the implementation of measures contained in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to tackle illegal migrant working, which has provided the Border and Immigration Agency with a wider and more effective range of tools with which to tackle non-compliance. The 2006 Act introduced a system of civil penalties for employers who employ illegal migrants through less than diligent practices, alongside a tough new offence for those who knowingly employ illegal migrants, which carries a maximum two year prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine. These new measures came into force on 29 February 2008.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 1, 2) : Employing a person aged 16 and above subject to immigration control 
			  Number of persons 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005( 3)  2006( 3) 
			 Proceeded against 0 1 4 10 5 2 2 11 23 11 
			 Found guilty 0 1 1 4 1 1 1 8 13 7 
			 (1) Principal immigration offence. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Figures are provisional.

Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the permissibility of taking photographs in registry offices; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 9 June 2008
	There is nothing in marriage legislation that refers specifically to the subject of photography at the wedding and arrangements are at the discretion of the local superintendent registrar.
	Guidance for registration officers is a matter for the Registrar General. He has advised them that there have been no Government guidelines. They should continue with their usual practices where these allow full opportunity for photographs without undermining the solemnity and dignity of the occasion. He accepts the need for common-sense precautions to avoid any damage to the register and to conceal the identifying information that it contains.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre: Prisoner Escapes

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those who escaped from the Yarl's Wood detention centre during the fire of 14th February 2002 remained at large for  (a) three,  (b) six and  (c) 12 months; and whether any such prisoners remain at large.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 22 May 2008
	A total of 23 detainees are believed to have escaped from Yarl's Wood on 14 February 2002.
	Many records were burnt or destroyed on the night of the fire which means that I am unable to answer the question in the format requested.
	However, nine have since been removed from the United Kingdom, one has made a voluntary departure, five are in contact with the UK Border Agency and eight are considered to still be unlawfully at large.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Cancer: Research

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much  (a) the Medical Research Council and  (b) other research councils funded by his Department spent on cancer research in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 12 June 2008
	In the last five years to 2006-07 the Medical Research Council has spent the following sums on cancer research: 65.4 million (2002-03), 70.8 million (2003-04), 78.7 million (2004-05), 78.1 million (2005-06) and 85.6 million (2006-07). During the same periods, the other Research Councils spent in total the following sums: 12 million, 13.9 million, 16.2 million, 18.4 million and 20.5 million.
	Figures are not yet available for 2007-08.

Higher Education: Educational Institutions

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he expects  (a) the consultation paper on creating new higher education centres to be published and  (b) the process of bidding for such centres to begin.

Bill Rammell: We want to give everyone who has the talent the chance to go to university whether they are about to leave school or already in work. Students should have access to local provision offering flexible courses to suit their needs. Any proposals arising from our new university challenge policy for university campuses or centres will be assessed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England which will issue a consultation paper in July which will include a timetable on the way forward.

Nanotechnology: Research

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what research his Department is funding into developments in nanotechnology; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Research Councils support research and related training in nanotechnology. For example, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has spent over 132 million since 2003 on nanotechnology, and is currently investing about 40 million per annum in research grants and supporting 40 new PhD studentships per annum in the area.
	A new 50 million cross-Council programme covering NanoScience through Engineering to Application was announced in December 2007 as one of six strategic priorities over the CSR period (2008-09 to 2010-11). From this, 6.5 million has been committed to explore new methods of harvesting solar energy, for example by developing new types of solar cells.
	In addition, the Technology Strategy Board (an Executive NDPB of DIUS) currently provides funding of 19.5 million to projects at the nanoscale and a further 15 million on microscale engineering projects incorporating elements of nanotechnology. The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), established in 2007, works with the network of KTNs funded by the Technology Strategy Board and has a role in coordinating the UK network of 23 Micro-Nano Technology (MNT) Centres, including two centres offering services on the characterisation of micro and nano-scale materials. 54 million has been provided to establish and maintain the MNT centres, jointly funded with the regional development agencies and devolved Administrations.
	In April this year the National Measurement System (NMS) Unit in DIUS approved several new projects to be delivered within the NMS Chemical and Biological Metrology Programme. Two thirds of the work, worth more than 5 million over three years, addresses the field of nanotechnology. The projects aim to develop measurement standards and will be led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). NPL will involve several partners in the research.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of Chinese policy on human rights in Africa.

Meg Munn: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK recognises the growing role of China in Africa. We believe it is important for all of Africa's partners, including China, to act in ways that support the principles for sustainable development outlined in Africa's own New Partnership for Africa's Development agenda, including good governance and sound economic management.
	The UK and China have initiated a dialogue covering a range of issues important to conflict prevention and development in Africa. Governance and human rights issues are discussed as part of this dialogue. There have been positive outcomes. During my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to Beijing in January, Premier Wen signed up to the Millennium Development Goals Call to Action. Ministers regularly discuss African issues, such as Darfur, with their Chinese counterparts. Through the dialogue and our other bilateral contacts with China we are also working to encourage the Chinese Government to endorse the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

JUSTICE

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Michael Wills: No central figures for the amount of vocational training the Department has provided for staff is available
	All parts of the Ministry of Justice, including its agencies, provide staff with the training and skills necessary to carry out their job through a variety of methods including: on the job training, classroom based training and national vocational qualifications.

High Court: Judges

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy on monitoring the expenses of High Court judges is; and whether he plans to make provision for such expenses to be made open to public scrutiny.

Jack Straw: Arrangements for claiming expenses are governed by the High Court judges' Memorandum on Conditions of Appointment and Terms of Service. Claims are authorised for payment by Ministry of Justice officials, are subject to appropriate levels of internal and National Audit Office scrutiny and form part of departmental annual reports and accounts which are published annually.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of prisoners requiring drug or alcohol interventions in the high security estate received them in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: Data are not recorded in the format requested. However, epidemiological data show that on average around 55 per cent. of prisoners report a serious drug problem, with 80 per cent. reporting some misuse and around 7 per cent. of prisoners report severe alcohol dependency. There is no overall measure of treatment need. The following table shows details of drug interventions provided in the high security estate and as a proportion of annual throughput in 2007-08. Data on alcohol interventions are not recorded centrally.
	
		
			  Drug interventions provided in the high security estate as a proportion of annual throughput in 2007-08 
			  Treatment modality  Number of prisoners( 1)  Number of prisoners as a percentage of total high security throughput figure (15,363) in 2007-08 
			 Number of prisoners entering clinical substance misuse detoxification programmes (drugs and alcohol) 3,249 21 
			 Number of prisoners participating in extended prescribing programmes 200 1 
			 CARATs Substance Misuse Triage Assessments (SMTAs) 3,818 25 
			 Number of prisoners entering intensive drug treatment programmes 213 1 
			 (1) Prisoners receive more than one intervention.

Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employers have been  (a) prosecuted for and  (b) convicted of an offence under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in each of the last 10 years; and what penalties were imposed in each case.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Statistics showing the number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, from 1997 to 2006, in England and Wales, are shown in the following table. All defendants found guilty of this offence were given a fine; with the exception of one defendant in 2005 who was given a conditional discharge.
	Information on persons proceeded against for offences under Immigration Acts 1971 to 2004 during 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	We are committed to bringing forward the implementation of measures contained in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to tackle illegal migrant working, which has provided the Border and Immigration Agency with a wider and more effective range of tools with which to tackle non-compliance. The 2006 Act introduced a system of civil penalties for employers who employ illegal migrants through less than diligent practices, alongside a tough new offence for those who knowingly employ illegal migrants, which carries a maximum two year prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine. These new measures came into force on 29 February 2008.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 1, 2) : Employing a person aged 16 and above subject to immigration control 
			  Number of persons 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005( 3)  2006( 3) 
			 Proceeded against 0 1 4 10 5 2 2 11 23 11 
			 Found guilty 0 1 1 4 1 1 1 8 13 7 
			 (1) Principal immigration offence. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Figures are provisional.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Bonuses were paid in 2007, based on performance in the 2006-07 reporting year to 324 staff. The breakdown of which is as follows, using manpower figures at the end of April 2008:
	 (a) 16.4 per cent. of males in the Department received a bonus (131 staff);
	 (b) 15.0 per cent. of females in the Department received a bonus (193 staff);
	 (c) 11.1 per cent. of ethnic minorities in the Department received a bonus (two staff);
	 (d) 6.25 per cent. of disabled staff in the Department received a bonus (five staff); and
	 (e) sexual orientation is not currently monitored in the Northern Ireland Office.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

Shaun Woodward: The NIO has a number of policies and practices related to green transport, these include:
	loans to staff to purchase public transport season tickets;
	staff who use public transport can also get a loan to purchase a car park season ticket at their station;
	loans to staff to purchase cycles; and
	promoting our video conferencing facilities to reduce travel between our Belfast and London offices.
	The Northern Ireland Prison Service is actively managing its extensive fleet of vehicles to ensure that it is run as efficiently and effectively as possible.
	As the Department cannot eliminate the need for staff to fly, we participate in the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund to offset emissions from official and ministerial air travel. We are currently working with colleagues in the NI Departments on the Stormont Estate to produce a single workplace travel plan that will look to encourage alternatives to use of the car, including discussing with Translink possible improvements to public transport, looking at park and ride schemes and promoting car sharing, walking and cycling.

Domestic Violence: Sexual Offences

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many domestic abuse offences involved a sexual assault on  (a) a current partner,  (b) a former partner and  (c) a child in (i) A District Command Unit area, (ii) B District Command Unit area and (iii) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (A) sex and (B) age of victim.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows recorded crimes with a domestic motivation broken down by age and sex of victim. Due to a change in systems, comparable statistics are available only from 2004-05. The Police Service for Northern Ireland has advised that it is not possible to provide figures broken down by relationship.
	
		
			  Recorded crimes with a domestic motivation: Offences involving a sexual assault by gender and age of victims, A and B districts and Northern Ireland 2004-05 to 2007-08 
			   Females 17 and over  Males 17 and over  Children under 17  Gender/age unknown  Total offences 
			  A district  
			  2004-05  
			 Rape inc. attempts 3 0 2 0 5 
			 Indecent assaults 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other sexual offences 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total sexual offences 3 0 2 0 5 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Rape inc. attempts 6 0 0 0 6 
			 Indecent assaults 5 0 1 0 6 
			 Other sexual offences 1 0 0 1 2 
			 Total sexual offences 12 0 1 1 14 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Rape inc. attempts 5 0 3 0 8 
			 Indecent assaults 3 0 4 0 7 
			 Other sexual offences 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total sexual offences 8 0 7 0 15 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Rape inc. attempts 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Indecent assaults 3 0 0 0 3 
			 Other sexual offences 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total sexual offences 3 0 0 0 3 
			   
			  B district  
			  2004-05  
			 Rape inc. attempts 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Indecent assaults 3 0 2 0 5 
			 Other sexual offences 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total sexual offences 3 0 2 0 5 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Rape inc. attempts 3 0 1 0 4 
			 Indecent assaults 5 0 0 0 5 
			 Other sexual offences 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Total sexual offences 8 0 1 1 10 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Rape inc. attempts 2 0 1 0 3 
			 Indecent assaults 2 0 1 0 3 
			 Other sexual offences 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total sexual offences 4 0 2 0 6 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Rape inc. attempts 4 0 0 0 4 
			 Indecent assaults 2 0 2 0 4 
			 Other sexual offences 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total sexual offences 6 0 2 0 8 
			  Northern Ireland  
			  2004-05  
			 Rape inc. attempts 23 0 3 0 26 
			 Indecent assaults 17 0 12 0 29 
			 Other sexual offences 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Total sexual offences 41 0 15 0 56 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Rape inc. attempts 29 0 10 0 39 
			 Indecent assaults 26 0 13 0 39 
			 Other sexual offences 1 0 4 3 8 
			 Total sexual offences 56 0 27 3 86 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Rape inc. attempts 39 0 8 0 47 
			 Indecent assaults 20 0 25 0 45 
			 Other sexual offences 2 0 3 0 5 
			 Total sexual offences 61 0 36 0 97 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Rape inc. attempts 28 1 11 0 40 
			 Indecent assaults 24 0 28 0 52 
			 Other sexual offences 4 1 1 0 6 
			 Total sexual offences 56 2 40 0 98 
			  Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role the Police Service of Northern Ireland plays in counselling and advising victims of domestic abuse; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that role.

Paul Goggins: Uniformed officers attending domestic incidents will speak to the victim to inquire about the circumstances that lead to the reporting of the incident. In following up incidents, Domestic Abuse Officers will signpost the victim to relevant agencies, according to his or her needs. Police officers do not counsel victims of domestic abuse, but provide information and refer them to more appropriate support agencies, such as Women's Aid, the Men's Advisory Project or Victim Support.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012

Adam Price: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what competition events of the London Olympics 2012 will be held outside London.

Tessa Jowell: The competition events of the London Olympics 2012 which will be held outside London are canoe/kayak slalom at Broxbourne, flatwater canoe/kayak at Eton Dorney, rowing at Eton Dorney, sailing at Weymouth, football at Old Trafford, Millennium Stadium, St James' Park, Hampden Park and Villa Park.
	Weald Country Park in Essex was approved as the 2012 mountain biking venue by the International Cycling Federation (UCI) in 2004. In June 2006 the UCI expressed reservations on the suitability of the site and have requested a more challenging course. LOCOG are working with Essex county council to look at other possible venues within Essex that meet the new requirements of the sport as well as the venue's location.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not separately record expenditure on postage by destination or delivery company.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department's green transport plan was introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of this plan.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office is an associated office of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The MoJ are currently developing a sustainable development action plan which includes an action to produce a green transport plan. A copy of the MoJ transport plan will be placed within the Library when complete.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the amount of capital gains tax was on the relevant rollover for the residents of each unitary authority area of Wales in each financial year since 1998.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Car Allowances: Voluntary Work

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the rates of approved mileage allowance payments for motorists who are volunteer drivers.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 12 November 2007 and the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 28 April 2008.
	HMRC allows volunteers to use the approved mileage allowance payment (AMAP) rate for convenience, but it is not mandatory and volunteer drivers can claim tax relief for the full cost of motoring by completing a return, if they wish to do so.

Departmental Legal Costs

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on legal fees in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: Subject to any necessary adjustments following the Comptroller and Auditor General's audit of the Treasury's resource account, net spending on external legal advice in 2007-08 was 1,331,000.
	For spending in earlier years I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the former Financial Secretary my hon. Friend for Wentworth (John Healey) on 18 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1496W, to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) and on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1738W, to the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies).

Departmental Property

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was raised by his Department by the sale of departmental property in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: No departmental property was sold in the last five years.

Departmental Property

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income was received by his Department from the letting of its properties in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: No properties were let during the last five years.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Statistics on food waste generated by the Department are only available for the past three years. The figures are:
	
		
			  January to December each year  Kilograms 
			 2005 8,785 
			 2006 5,125 
			 2007 5,375 
		
	
	A food waste recycling programme was introduced in March 2008. Through this, food waste is removed from the building and transported to a biogas plant where it is subjected to an anaerobic digestion process. In addition, the process produces fertilizer and electricity as by-products.

Government Departments: Buildings

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of new leasing arrangements for buildings occupied by Government  (a) Departments,  (b) executive agencies and  (c) non-departmental public bodies were (i) new leases and (ii) renewals of existing leases in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Buildings

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of buildings newly procured for use by Government  (a) Departments,  (b) executive agencies and  (c) non-departmental public bodies were (i) rented, (ii) leased, (iii) purchased and (iv) acquired under a private finance initiative or public-private partnership arrangement in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Procurement

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Procurement in the Office of Government Commerce in  (a) drawing up a delivery plan and milestones for meeting the targets for the sustainable operations on the Government estate and  (b) implementing the sustainable procurement action plan.

Angela Eagle: The Government will publish a delivery plan in the summer. This will set out: progress to date in implementing its Sustainable Procurement Action Plan and its targets for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate; and its forward action plans and trajectories.

Lorries: Foreign Companies

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial contribution foreign heavy goods vehicles make to maintaining the British road network.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 11 June 2008
	EU law is clear that member state policy measures may not inhibit the freedom of movement of goods and may not discriminate (directly or indirectly) according to nationality of haulier or the origin or destination of a vehicle. This of itself precludes any lump-sum tax levied specifically on entry to the UK.
	The Government along with industry representatives looked at foreign activity as part of the industry study undertaken by the 2006 Haulage Industry Task Group. The conclusions showed that cabotage activity (foreign operators picking up and dropping off the same load within the UK) accounted for around 1 per cent. of domestic road freight movements.
	Following the conclusion of the recent Freight Data Feasibility Study, the Government decided against taking forward a vignette scheme due to the limited benefits achievable when compared to the costs. It was decided that greater benefits are achievable through other measures, and to this extent the Department for Transport recently announced an additional 24.3 million on enforcement spending, targeting those on international tripsthose less likely to comply with UK road safety law.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 21 April 2008, on Northern Rock, PO Ref: 1/56466/2008.

Kitty Ussher: I have replied to the hon. Member

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 29 April 2008, on Tax Office investigations.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs replied to the hon. Member on 12 June 2008, and apologised for the delay.

Revenue and Customs: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reassess the decision to close the HM Revenue and Customs office at Lingmell House in Chorley.

Jane Kennedy: My answers to the hon. Gentleman's earlier questions of 17 March 2008,  Official Report, column 896W, explained that the decision to close the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) office in Chorley was made after extensive consultation and detailed feasibility work. Nothing has changed to warrant revisiting the decision. HMRC's plans do not envisage any business requirement to retain the Chorley office, with the exception of its inquiry centre services, which will continue to be offered either from the current building or one nearby.

Revenue and Customs: Southend on Sea

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last visited HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not visited the HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend-on-Sea. Treasury Ministers make regular visits to HM Revenue and Customs offices around the country.

VAT: Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual income to Exchequer funds which would arise from ending the exemption from value added tax of aviation.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 10 June 2008
	HM Revenue and Customs does not hold sufficient information with which to estimate the revenue impacts from applying different rates of VAT to the aviation sector, even if our international agreements allowed the UK to do so. However, under the normal rules of the tax, any additional VAT that might be incurred by a VAT registered airline or other VAT registered business could be reclaimed to the extent that it relates to their taxable business activities.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Females: Olympic Games 2012

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government has taken to promote the employment of women as part of the preparation for and delivery of the Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 5 June 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) through its equality and diversity strategy ensures that all the processes used to recruit and manage employees (including within the supply chain) are demonstrably fair. The ODA will make reasonable adjustments where necessary and offer equal opportunities to all.
	Women will benefit through the Women into Construction project which the ODA and the London Development Agency have developed. This focuses on supporting women wishing to work directly on the construction programme for the 2012 Games.
	The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has a strong diversity and inclusion policy for the recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers that covers gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion and age. This will be regularly monitored for its effectiveness, and builds on the prominence of diversity and equality as key components of London's bid for the Games. LOCOG also requests equal opportunities policies from potential suppliers.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: For the period 2008-09 there were 37 foundation apprenticeships and 49 advanced apprenticeships undertaken in the Department.

Departmental Buildings

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans his Department has for its services at Sunley House, Aylesbury;
	(2)  how many staff are employed in each of his Department's offices in Aylesbury; whether he plans to change those staff numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	The Secretary of State has asked Lesley Strathie to reply to your questions asking what plans his Department has for its services at Sunley House, Aylesbury and how many staff are employed in each of his Department's offices in Aylesbury; whether he plans to make changes to those staff numbers; and if he will make a statement. I am replying on behalf of Ms Strathie in her absence as Acting Chief Executive.
	The Department currently has two offices in Aylesbury. The Jobcentre Plus office in Heron House provides customer facing Jobcentre services to local people. A total of 35 staff are employed at this site.
	A second Jobcentre Plus office in Sunley House provides Social Fund services to customers across the South East by telephone or by post. A total of 63 staff are employed there; 41 of these are permanent staff and 22 are employed on either casual or fixed term contracts which are due to end in December 2008.
	We have now acquired sufficient space to house the Sunley House operations in Bowback House, Milton Keynes. We plan to move Social Fund work from Sunley House to Milton Keynes Benefit Delivery Centre by 31 March 2009.
	All Social Fund staff in Sunley House will be given the opportunity to redeploy to Milton Keynes Benefit Delivery Centre and will be given advice and support to help them decide whether this is what they wish to do, including the option of trying out working in Milton Keynes on a temporary detached duty basis. A number of staff have already successfully transferred to Milton Keynes. Staff will also be able to apply for other DWP vacancies at Aylesbury Jobcentre.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has issued guidance to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department has issued guidance telling staff to switch off PCs, monitors and all peripherals at night, at weekends and during the day when staff leave their desks for a meeting or for lunch.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he estimates will be spent on each type of employment and support allowance in each of the next five years.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 6 June 2008
	Employment and support allowance expenditure forecasts split by the Work Related Activity Group and the Support Group are not available. The following table presents estimates of total employment and support allowance expenditure covering the Government's spending plan period up to 2010-11.
	
		
			  Employment and support allowance: estimated benefit expenditure 
			   million, nominal terms 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Employment and support allowance 430 1,540 2,840 
			 Of which:
			 Contributory 200 660 1,170 
			 Income-based 230 890 1,670 
			  Notes: 1. The estimates of employment and support allowance are also available on the DWP website through the following link: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp 2. Employment and support allowance will be introduced in October 2008. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 million. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants he expects there to be of employment and support allowance in each of the next five years, broken down by type of employment and support allowance.

Stephen Timms: Employment and Support Allowance caseload forecasts split by the Work Related Activity Group and the Support Group are not available. However, we expect some 10 per cent. of new Employment and Support Allowance customers to be placed in the Support Group, rising to at least 20 per cent. in the future Employment and Support Allowance stock. Information about estimates of total Employment and Support Allowance caseloads to the end of the Government's spending plans are in the following table.
	
		
			  Employment and support allowance: estimated benefit caseload 
			   Number (thousand) 
			 2008-09 100 
			 2009-10 280 
			 2010-11 480 
			  Notes: 1. The estimates of employment and support allowance combined with incapacity benefit caseloads are also available on the DWP website through the following link: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp 2. Employment and support allowance will be introduced in October 2008. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

Employment: Hearing Impaired

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Department is taking to enable deaf people to remain in or return to work.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1301W.

Jobcentre Plus: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) crisis loans,  (b) interim payments of pension and  (c) interim payments of benefits were paid to Jobcentre Plus customers in Dorset and Somerset through the out-of-hours service in the last six months for which information is available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves dated 13 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of crisis loans, interim payments of pension and interim payments of benefits which were paid to Jobcentre Plus customers in Dorset and Somerset in the last six months for which information is available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Ms Strathie as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. I am replying in her absence as Acting Chief Executive.
	There is no national requirement to collate data relating to the number of crisis loans received on an area by area basis.
	However since 1 November 2007 a total of 56,595 Crisis Loan applications were received by the Social Fund Benefit Delivery Centre at Bristol which has responsibility for the South West area, including Dorset and Somerset.
	A total of 29,164 crisis loan applications were successful and received payment for the period 1 December 2007 to 31 March 2008 (data for November 2007 and April 2008 is unavailable). It is not possible to advise what proportion of these figures relates to Dorset and Somerset.
	Similarly, there is no national requirement to collate data relating to the number of interim payments made.
	However both the benefit delivery centres responsible for Dorset and Somerset do retain some data for their own analytical purposes. The benefit delivery centre at Exeter made 24 interim payments in the last six months comprising income support, jobseeker's allowance and incapacity benefit. The benefit delivery centre at Chippenham made a total of six, comprising income support and jobseeker's allowance.
	Jobcentre Plus offices in Dorset and Somerset do make counter payments on behalf of The Pension Service but these are made due to late payments and are not interim payments of pension.

Jobseekers Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many 18 to 24 year olds have spent more than  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three,  (d) four and  (e) five or more years, not necessarily continuously in each case, claiming jobseekers allowance.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The information requested is not available.

Members: Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letter of 25 February 2008 from the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan on a constituent, Mrs Hewitson of Peterhead.

Anne McGuire: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 6 June 2008.

New Deal Schemes

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) people,  (b) young people,  (c) lone parents,  (d) people over 25 years old and  (e) people over 50 years old participated in the new deal in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the north-east and (iv) the UK in 2007.

Stephen Timms: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of people starting new deals in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, north-east Jobcentre Plus region and Great Britain in 2007 
			   New deal for young people  New deal 25 plus  New deal for lone parents  New deal 50 plus  All new deals 
			 Jarrow Parliamentary Constituency 450 350 410 40 1,650 
			 South Tyneside local authority area 980 860 900 50 3,400 
			 North East Jobcentre Plus Region 11,950 8,560 11,080 790 40,130 
			   
			 Great Britain 169,840 126,080 206,960 13,230 579,570 
			  Notes: 1. Information on new deal is available for Great Britain, not the UK. 2. Information for South Tyneside is available by local authority area. 3. Information for the north-east is available by Jobcentre Plus region. 4. Information for new deal as a whole includes, where available, data for new deal for disabled people and new deal for partners. Individual new deal figures may thus not sum to totals. 5. Information is for individuals. If a person has started new deal more than once, only their latest start is included in the table.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate

Older Workers

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of working people aged 50 years and over have a limiting long-standing illness and level 2 qualification, (b) a limiting long-standing illness and no level 2 qualification,  (c) no limiting long-standing illness but have a level 2 qualification and  (d) no limiting long-standing illness and no level 2 qualification.

Tom Watson: holding answer 4 June 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of working people aged 50 years and over have (a) a limiting long-standing illness and level 2 qualification (b) a limiting long-standing illness and no level 2 qualification (c) no limiting long-standing illness but have a level 2 qualification and (d) no limiting long-standing illness and no level 2 qualification. (208278)
	Statistics on people with health problems or disabilities, by labour market status and level of qualification attained, are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). All working age people are asked whether they have any health problems or disabilities that they expect to last for more than a year and if either their day-to-day activities or employment are consequently affected.
	The attached table gives estimates of the number and proportion of employed people aged 50 and over for the categories requested. The data provided covers the three month period ending March 2008.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  People in employment aged 50 and over( 1)  by disability status and education level, three months ending March 2008,  United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand, except where indicated 
			   Below level 2 qualification( 2,3)  Level 2 qualification and above( 2)  Total 
			 Number of people with:
			 Long-term health problem/disability(4) 537 892 1,429 
			 No long-term health problem/disability 1,761 3,401 5,162 
			 Total 2,297 4,293 6,591 
			 
			 As a percentage of all people in employment aged 50 and over:
			 Long-term health problem/disability(4) 8 14 22 
			 No long-term health problem/disability 27 52 78 
			 Total 35 65 100 
			 (1) Men aged 50 to 64 and women aged 50 to 59 (2) People are counted as being qualified to level 2 if they have achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C, an intermediate GNVQ, two or three AS levels, an NVQ level 2 or equivalent vocational qualification or a trade apprenticeship (3) Includes people with no qualifications. (4) Includes people with a long-term health problem or disability which either substantially limits their day-to-day activities or affects the kind or amount of work they could do, or both.  Source:  Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Pension Protection Fund

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension schemes became ineligible for Pension Protection Fund levies in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 4 February 2008
	I apologise for the delay in replying; the information is not available in the form requested.
	Section 126 of the Pensions Act 2004 and regulations made under it set out the eligibility criteria for pension protection fund levies; in broad terms, occupational pension schemes which are not money purchase schemes or otherwise exempted by legislation are eligible schemes as long as they had not begun to wind up when the PPF opened for business in April 2005.
	In the 2007 update of the Purple Bookdefined benefit pensions universe risk profilepublished on 18 December 2007, the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) estimates that its eligible defined-benefit (DB) universe was around 7,800 schemes.
	Pension schemes may become ineligible for Pension Protection Fund (PPF) levies for a number of reasons. For example, a scheme would become ineligible if its trustees entered into a compromise with the sponsoring employer to reduce the debt the employer owed the scheme, without the Board of the PPF's agreement. A scheme could also become ineligible if it only had two members and one of those diedas schemes with fewer than two members are not eligible schemes. A scheme would also cease to be an eligible scheme if it completed winding up.
	The Board of the PPF only holds data on the eligible scheme universe; if a scheme is ineligible it will be recorded only with the pensions regulator. Provision of the correct information by schemes is of course essential, and the two organisations work closely together to ensure consistent data. However, if a scheme is invoiced for the pension protection levy and later demonstrates that it was ineligible, the Board will refund any sums paid.
	Between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 a total of 9,084 schemes notified the pensions regulator that the scheme had completed wind-up. Of these, 675 were defined benefit schemes and 139 were hybrid schemes, and the balance (8,270) were defined contribution schemes. 814 of these schemes (the DB and hybrid ones) would until that point have been eligible for PPF levies, providing they had not begun winding up before the PPF opened for business in April 2005.
	Similar information for 2006-07 could not be provided without disproportionate cost. However, improvements in the way scheme data are collected will mean that similar information for 2007-08 and beyond will be available.

Pensioners

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) male and  (b) female pensioners were resident in the UK in each year between 1997 and 2008; and how many of each are expected to be resident in the UK in each year between 2009 and 2030.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question regarding how many  (a) male and  (b) female pensioners were resident in the UK each year between 1997 and 2008, and how many of each are expected to be resident in the UK between 2009 and 2030. 1 am replying in her absence.
	Provided below is a table showing the population of state pensionable age for 1997 to 2030, for the United Kingdom, by sex. The figures up to and including 2006 are population estimates. The latest population projections are 2006-based and have been used to provide the estimated population of state pensionable age from 2007 to 2030.
	These figures are based on the state pension age applicable in each year so they take into account the forthcoming increases in state pension age.
	
		
			  Persons of state pensionable age( 1)  by sexUnited Kingdom 
			  Millions 
			   Males  Females 
			  Population estimates   
			 1997 3.8 6.9 
			 1998 3.8 6.9 
			 1999 3.8 6.9 
			 2000 3.9 6.9 
			 2001 3.9 6.9 
			 2002 4.0 6.9 
			 2003 4.0 7.0 
			 2004 4.1 7.0 
			 2005 4.1 7.1 
			 2006 4.2 7.2 
			
			 Population projections(2)   
			 2007 4.2 7.2 
			 2008 4.2 7.3 
			 2009 4.3 7.5 
			 2010 4.4 7.6 
			 2011 4.5 7.6 
			 2012 4.7 7.5 
			 2013 4.8 7.4 
			 2014 5.0 7.4 
			 2015 5.1 7.3 
			 2016 5.3 7.2 
			 2017 5.4 7.1 
			 2018 5.5 7.0 
			 2019 5.6 7.0 
			 2020 5.7 6.9 
			 2021 5.8 6.9 
			 2022 5.9 7.0 
			 2023 6.0 7.1 
			 2024 6.2 7.2 
			 2025 6.2 7.3 
			 2026 6.2 7.3 
			 2027 6.2 7.3 
			 2028 6.3 7.4 
			 2029 6.4 7.6 
			 2030 6.6 7.7 
			 (1) Between 2010 and 2020, state pension age will change from 65 years for men and 60 for women, to 65 years for both sexes. Between 2024 and 2026, state pension age will increase from 65 years to 66 years for both sexes.  (2) 2006-based national population projections.

TICC Ltd: Redundancy

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees were made redundant when TICC Ltd went into liquidation; how many received compensation from public funds; what the basis of calcuation of the compensation payments was; and under what statutory authority the payments were made.

Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the previous Department of Social Security and the employment elements of the Department for Education and Employment. The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold records relating to either the terms of the transfer of these former Department for Employment staff in 1990,or to any associated compensation payments.

Unemployment: Young People

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to tackle long-term youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: As a result of our successful policies, youth claimant unemployment is at a historic low. The New Deal for Young People has helped to virtually eradicate youth long-term claimant unemployment, with the numbers of young job seekers unemployed for a year or more down from 91,000 in March 1997 to 5,900 in March 2008.
	The Department for Work and Pensions is working closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to support young people to make the transition from education and training into work and to engage with 18-year-olds with a previous history of being not in education, employment or training. From April this year 18-year-olds with any past history of being not in education, employment or training can, by agreement with their personal adviser, be fast tracked on a voluntary basis to the Gateway stage of the New Deal for Young People.
	From April 2009, we will take this approach further by making fast tracking to the more intensive, adviser-led support stage of the flexible New Deal mandatory for 18-year-olds who have spent at least six months not in education, employment or training. The flexible New Deal and refreshed Jobseeker's Allowance programme will be a key element in a welfare system in which, increasingly, claimants are not passive recipients of benefits, but instead active job seekers preparing for a return to work in which they will be better off.

Welfare to Work

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what timetable has been set for agreement on funding arrangements for welfare to work proposals with HM Treasury; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We have set out our intention to come forward with welfare reform proposals for a 4(th) session Bill, and funding decisions will be made as part of that process in conjunction with HM Treasury.

Winter Fuel Payments

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether winter fuel payments are payable to pensioners living outside the UK; and what representations he has received on this matter.

Mike O'Brien: Winter fuel payments are paid to former UK residents living outside the UK but within the European economic area only if they qualified for a payment before leaving the UK.
	There are regular representations on this issue in the form of correspondence and parliamentary questions. Following recent interest, I asked departmental lawyers and officials to fully re-examine the reasons for paying winter fuel payments to former UK residents now living elsewhere in the European economic area. Under European Union law, some benefits acquired in one member state must be paid to people who live outside that state but within the European economic area. Winter fuel payments are one of these benefits and the UK is bound by European Union law. To comply with European law we must continue to pay winter fuel payments to former UK residents living elsewhere in the European economic area if they qualified for a payment before leaving the UK.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer Questions  (a) 190580 and  (b) 190581, on the New Deal, tabled on 26 February.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 20 March 2008
	I replied to my right Hon. Friend's questions as follows; to 190580 on 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2008W and to 190581 on 25 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2361-62W.